As the Minorities & Nationalities Summit -M&N 20, jointly organised by Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) and Dal Khalsa, was not allowed to happen with the authorities shutting down the Constitution Club venue, political body Dal Khalsa has taken up the issue through a missive to the G20 group of nations, with special reference to Canada and the United Kingdom, urging them to listen to the viewpoint and concerns of minorities, regional identities and nationalities, subjugated in India and not heed to the anti-minority majoritarian and autocratic stance of the Narendra Modi government. WSN reports.

Addressing a press meet in Amritsar today, Dal Khalsa apprised that they had written to G20 countries to understand and respect the challenges and concerns of communities, regional identities and nationalities that are being suppressed and threatened by Bharat -the host country of the G20 summit.

“We believe that a comprehensive and truthful understanding of a nation’s social fabric is essential for diplomatic interactions, especially in the context of international gatherings such as the G20 Summit,” said Kanwar Pal Singh in a letter addressed to foreign diplomats.

Taking notice of Modi’s call to G20 countries seeking “joint efforts to strengthen the territorial integrity of all countries,” Dal Khalsa leader Kanwar Pal Singh said, “This is a negation of the right to self-determination and all G20 countries should not be carried away by this rhetoric, rather they should bypass this diktat of the leader of the host nation.”

Modi talks of the imperative to adhere fully to international laws. How about Bharat making a begining by fully respecting the provisions of UN Declaration of Human Rights, including the right to self-determination?

Taking a jibe at Modi’s statement that “it is imperative to adhere fully to international laws,” the leader of Dal Khalsa remarked, “Let Bharat make a beginning of respecting international law by accepting the provisions of the UN Declaration of Human Rights categorically, which states, “All peoples have the right of self-determination. By virtue of that right they freely determine their political status and freely pursue their economic, social and cultural development.”

“There is no barrier, no hindrance, and no ifs and buts. New nations are born only when the powers that be dishonour the rights of the people within their territories and subvert their legitimate rights.”

“The Dal Khalsa communique has sought the active intervention of the G20 countries to play a serious role in the resolution of political conflicts, release of all political prisoners from Kashmir to Delhi to central India, to end the State’s interference in religious affairs of minority communities, upholding of democratic right to dissent, right to self-determination and immediate stoppage of misuse of NIA and draconian laws like NSA, UAPA.”

Talking to the media, Kanwar Pal Singh said, “Our letter to the diplomatic community in Delhi is our direct response to the cancellation of the M&N 20 Summit whose only aim was to peacefully convene in Delhi and provide a platform for minority and nationality groups in India to discuss and express their concerns, ranging from social justice to religious freedoms, human rights and political rights to economic equality for one and all.

---

Read also

Undemocratic Bharat scuttles Minorities and Nationalities Summit

---

The Dal Khalsa communique, sent through email, sought the active intervention of the G20 countries to play a serious role in the resolution of political conflicts, release of all political prisoners from Kashmir to Delhi to central India, to end the State’s interference in religious affairs of minority communities, upholding of democratic right to dissent, right to self-determination and immediate stoppage of misuse of NIA and draconian laws like NSA, UAPA.

---

Read also

M & N 20 to precede G 20 in Delhi to present alternative perspective

---

Dal Khalsa thanked 70 British Members of Parliament for urging their Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to take up the issue of a political prisoner Jagtar Singh Johal, incarcerated in Indian prison for the last five years, with Indian Prime Minster, during his upcoming visit to Delhi for the G20 summit.

“Will Prime Minister of United Kingdom -Rishi Sunak honour the appeal of 70 Members of Parliament of his country who have asked him to take up the case of release of British national Jagtar Singh Johal, in prison in India for more than 5 years?”

“We will eagerly wait to see whether the British PM will honour the words of his country’s MPs,” added Kanwar Pal Singh.

” We fully appreciate Canada ordering inquiry into India’s interference in Canadian affairs but will Canada provide details to the Sikh world about progress in the investigation of the brazen daylight murder of a Sikh activist?”

Dal Khalsa welcomed the recent Canadian government’s decision of ordering a public inquiry into the interference of India in Canadian affairs.

Party spokesperson Paramjit Singh Mand told the media that activists from Manipur, victims of Nuh violence, Tamil and Kashmiri activists, a sitting MLA from Delhi Assembly, the SGPC President, representatives of the All India Muslim Personal Law Board convenor, Buddhist leaders from Maharashtra, Christian leaders from Delhi and leaders of Dalit, Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribes and Adivasi organizations were are all set to participate in the M & N 20 Summit, which was scuttled by the Indian government.

“Whether it is India or Bharat, it does not bother us.”

To a question on the nomenclature -India versus Bharat, Dal Khalsa spokesperson Paramjit Singh Mand said “Sikhs should not be bothered about it. It is their country, let them decide which name they want to have.” “We are bothered about our sovereignty and our homeland,” he added.