Punjab-based Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar), Dal Khalsa and Tamil Nadu-based Naam Tamilar Katchi, with the Delhi-based Committee for Release of Political Prisoners and political activists from Kashmir will hold a Justice March and Rally at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi on 26 September protesting the continuous 40-day unrelenting disrespect for human rights and political rights in the Kashmir valley.  The Indian Occupied Kashmir, after the unilateral abrogation of the special status of the people and the state, has benumbed civil society and the Indian political mainstream. To counter this, Punjabis, Sikhs and Tamils will stand up for the right of the Kashmiri people to speak for their rights and aspirations.

ON THE EVE OF the address of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan’s address to the United Nations General Assembly, on 27 September, the Punjabis, Sikhs and Tamils will converge in Delhi to raise their voice for the people of Kashmir reeling under the jackboots of the Indian army and the harsh political administration there, which is unashamedly totally unmindful of the deteriorating state of human rights in the region.

Addressing the press conference here today, leaders Simranjit Singh Mann, Harpal Singh Cheema, Kanwarpal Singh, Gurdeep Singh Bathinda and Jagatheeswaran Palswamy declared that minorities and nationalities will speak in India’s capital to uphold the right of the Kashmiris to speak. They appealed to human rights activists, political party representatives to join hands with them to speak for the rights of the people of Kashmir.

This Justice Rally will serve as a rallying point to unequivocally declare that the problem of Kashmir, the rights of the people of Kashmir is an international issue and not a bilateral one as India, the Security Council or even the United Nations think it to be.

Sikh leaders Simranjit Singh Mann, Harpal Singh Cheema, Kanwarpal Singh, Tamil leader Seeman and Kashmiri activist Prof. S. A. R. Geelani, along with scores of Sikh, Tamil and Kashmiri activists will stand up to India and set the stage for other political parties and groups to speak for the rights of the Kashmiris and come out of their deep slumber.

“At the United Nations, the Indian Prime Minister will present his side of the story on how India is suppressing the whole of Kashmir to forcibly integrate with India. While the Prime Minister of India will present his side of story on Kashmir’s so-called integration into India, we will all stand up for the people of Kashmir one day earlier and raise our voice for a people whose lives have been completely paralyzed since August 5,” read the press statement given out at the press conference in Chandigarh.

Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) president Simranjit Singh Mann said that “a state of numbness, pseudo-nationalistic and ultra-nationalism is sweeping the country and it is our duty as Sikhs to rise to the occasion.  We uphold the rights of the people of Kashmir and we express full solidarity with the people of Kashmir and protest against their continued subjugation since the last 40 days by the Indian state.”

A state of numbness, pseudo-nationalistic and ultra-nationalism is sweeping the country and it is our duty as Sikhs to rise to the occasion. 

“This Justice Rally will serve as a rallying point to unequivocally declare that the problem of Kashmir, the rights of the people of Kashmir is an international issue and not a bilateral one as India, the Security Council or even the United Nations think it to be,” said Dal Khalsa president Harpal Singh Cheema.

“While we are comforted that United Nations is raising its pitch of consternation against India on the overall situation in Kashmir, there is still a room to do more,” added Dal Khalsa spokesperson Kanwar Pal Singh.

United Akali Dal president Gurdeep Singh Bhatinda said “the whole country is shrouded in fear. Opposition parties, non-governmental groups, individual human rights defenders are all reeling under the deep stress caused by the Indian state.”

Dal Khalsa spokesperson Kanwarpal Singh pointed out that, “In India, the Sikh, Tamil and Kashmiri leaders will hold demonstration in Delhi, whereas, the Sikh Youth of America, units of Dal Khalsa and Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) will join the Sikh, Tamil and Kashmiri Diaspora and stage protests against India’s highhandedness against minorities and lockdown in Kashmir at the United Nations headquarters in New York.”

President of the Sikh Youth of Punjab, Paramjit Singh Mand, told the media that Sikh youth stands hand-in-hand with the people of Kashmir and we will do all we can to provide succour to the suffering of Kashmiri brethren.