Hoshiarpur, Punjab (January 17, 2013): On the eve of India’s Republic day, the Dal Khalsa in association with SAD (Panch Pardani) will hold a peaceful sit-in at Amritsar on 24 January to protest against Constitutional discriminations and injustices.
Alleging that the Indian Constitution has failed the Sikh people, the Dal Khalsa has decided to observe India’s 65th Republic day as betrayal day.
Dal Khalsa leaders addressing the press
The activists of Sikh bodies will protest at the busiest Bhandari bridge for 3 hours holding flag blacks and placards to convey their message.
Addressing the select media at his residence after presiding the party workers meet, party head H S Dhami and spokesperson Kanwar Pal Singh said Sikhs have a distinct and separate identity; however, it is ironic that the Constitution is ambiguous about it.
Since the past 65 years of Indian republic, the Sikhs have strived to find an independent and dignified place in the Indian Constitution so as to uphold their unique and distinct identity but to no avail. “Although the Sikhs on their own have managed to climb on to the highest Constitutional and executive posts, yet they have bitterly failed to correct the Constitutional wrongs”.
Dhami listed the four point agenda for the protest that includes dubbing Sikhs as Hindus as per the Article 25 (b) (2), denial of right to self determination and separate Sikh Personal Law and continued loot of Punjab’s river waters. “All these 4 matters directly relate to the Constitution”, said he.
There will be no traffic blockage and our activists will stand on footpaths and distribute the literature to passé-bys, said Kanwar Pal Singh. We appeal to Sikhs, Hindus and Muslims of Punjab to join us in this endeavour to end the injustice and denial of fundamental freedoms.
Earlier, Dhami presided over the meeting of its youth wing, the Sikh Youth of Punjab. Addressing the youth, he said while the top politicians continue to indulge in personalised attacks over the drug links, the real issue of tackling the menace has completely taken a backseat.Slamming ruling party and opposition party, he said both were least bothered to rid the state of drug menace. “Their approach is non-serious and people should show them the doors in the ensuing elections”.