20 Punjab-based bodies -from the left to the middle of the road to those advocating self-rule, farmer and student bodies, religious organizations, and political groups, under the aegis of Dal Khalsa’s Punjab Summit, gathered in Amritsar on the penultimate day of the G20 meet and declared that “No peace without justice and no progress without peace” asking this international group of nations to intervene to correct the deteriorating human rights record in Punjab and India. A WSN Report.

Surrounded by slogans admonishing India and making fervent appeals to the G20 nations to be proactive in initiating steps to stem the tide of rights violations in Punjab and India, 20 personalities and activists presented their viewpoints on Punjab’s social situation, economy, education, agriculture, self-rule, human rights and religio-political aspects.

The Punjab Summit, even called P20 resolved to urge the G20 to take cognizance of the whole waters issue of Punjab in perspective and involve impartial international experts to find a solution to the vexed problem lingering on for decades and made worse by India’s malafide intentions and colonial mindset over the Punjab.

Welcoming and thanking the wide spectrum of leadership gathered at the round-table meet, Dal Khalsa president Harpal Singh Cheema said that “Dal Khalsa will follow up on this P20 and engage with the G20 nations on the viewpoints of the region and the Sikhs.

Taking a strong note of rights abuses, police excesses, misuse of NIA and draconian laws like UAPA, growing intolerance and centralization process of the Indian state suppressing true federalism, the leaders sought the proactive intervention of G20.

In a dramatic show of solidarity, the P20 speakers endorsed the UN-recognised right to self-determination as the key to conflict resolution everywhere, including the Punjab.

SGPC president Harjinder Singh Dhami chided the Indian state for meddling in Sikh religious affairs. He said, in the past governments had attempted to make executive interference in the working of the apex Sikh body, whereas the recent trend is to use the judicial platform to serve its ends to dominate, demonize and dilute the importance and significance of Sikh bodies. “Historically Sikhs have always resisted and this time it will be no different. The people’s court is bigger than all forums and we will go to the Sikh Sangat and expose the misdeeds of the government,” he added.

Son of Member Parliament Simranjit Singh Mann, activist Emaan Singh Mann dwelled on the need to open the Wagha border for trade and peace between the two warring countries both of whom possess nuclear capabilities. “The key to progress, prosperity and peace in this region lies in the opening of the border,” said he.

Human Rights lawyers at the meet strongly advocated for the release of Sikh political prisoners who are still in prison even after having served their terms, saying that both the Union and the Punjab government were treading the Bandi Singhs (Sikh political prisoners) with hatred and vengeance.

Presided by Shiromani Gurdwara Parbhandhak Committee President Harjinder Singh Dhami, the stalwart participants who patiently deliberated for five hours without media glare and public intervention in a true Summit-style function included Harpal Singh Cheema, Kanwar Pal Singh, Paramjit Singh Mand and Harcharanjit Singh Dhami of Dal Khalsa, Emaan Singh Mann of Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar), , Bhai Daljeet Singh repesented Panth Sewak Jatha, SGPC legal team head Advocate Bhagwant Singh Sialka, SGPC member Karnail Singh Panjoli, human rights lawyer Jaspal Singh Manjhpur representing Punjab Lawyers, Paramjit Singh Gazi representing Sikh Siyasat, Ajaib Singh Abhyasi represented Sikh seminary Damdami Taksal, Bhupinder Singh of Sikh religious body Akhand Kirtani Jatha, farmer leader Surjit Singh Phul from Bhartiya Kisan Union (Krantikari), veteran activist Gurdeep Singh Bhatinda of the United Akali Dal,  political activist Narien Singh of Akal Federation, Kunwar Charth Singh of All India Sikh Students Federation, Harman Deep of Students for Society, Simrarjit Kaur from Khalra Mission, Jujhar Singh of SATH, Sikh writer Sarabjeet Singh of Khalsa Fatehnama, Ghuman Gurnam Singh from the Sikh Youth of Punjab, Punjab & Haryana High Court lawyer Simarjit Singh representing Voices for Freedom and labour activist Nodeep Kaur of Majdoor Adhikar Sangathan.

“The UN-recognised right to self-determination as the key to conflict resolution everywhere, including the Punjab.

P20-The Punjab Summit

The summit blamed the government for refusing to address the core issues of Punjab and the Sikhs and instead treating it as a pure law and order problem, inflicting torture and crushing dissent, the latest crackdown being a prime example of the state assault on civil and political rights.

“Ours is a peaceful struggle for self-rule. The government of India is pushing us to the wall and this can have disastrous consequences for all. Ours is not a law and order problem, it is a core socio-religio-political conflict and crushing dissent, assaulting civil and political rights will not help anybody,” concluded Dal Khalsa Secretary of Political Affairs Kanwar Pal Singh