Hoshiarpur, Punjab: The Dal Khalsa held a meeting on March 12 to discuss burning issues concerning Punjab and Panth. The meeting was presided over by party head H S Dhami.
In a statement issued to the press, spokesman Kanwar Pal Singh said that the meeting thoroughly discussed the latest religio- political developments in the state and deliberated upon the future strategy.
While expressing their anguish and concern over the indifferent and biased approach of the Takht Jathadars and the SGPC on Nanakshahi calendar issue, the representatives opposed the latest attempt by both the premier institutions to revert to Bikrami under the influence of Sant Samaj throwing all norms and principles to wind. The meeting termed the Nanakshahi calendar as manifestation of separate Sikh identity. “Those who are hell bent to revert into Bikrami are doing disservice to the community”.
Sikh body discusses various burning issues
Terming the committee formed by Jathedar of the Akal Takht to resolve the calendar row as one-sided affair and an eyewash, the meeting rejected the committee. They urged the Sikh organizations dedicated to the sovereignty of Akal Takhat to unite to oust the present corrupt management from the SGPC in the coming elections as they have caused severe damage to the Sikh cause..
Demanding immediate release of all other political prisoners detained in Punjab, the Sikh group said that all the brave hearts who are in jails are heroes of the Sikh nation and none of them are criminals.
The meeting took strong note of Indian government for not releasing the Sikh prisoners detained in various states related to the Sikh struggle who have completed more than 18 years in jails. This attitude reflects extremist policies of Union and state governments towards the Sikh nation.
The meet express happiness over the release of Hurriyat leader Masrat Alam Bhat by the newly formed J&K government and termed the noise created over the release of Masrat Alam in the Indian parliament as ridiculous and communal. The meeting said that this attitude of Indian politicians is a big question on the democratic claims of India.
The members also said that they were duty bound to further strengthen the struggle for freedom and are desirous of seeing all the pro-freedom parties on a single platform with some set principles.
Prominent amongst those were Satnam Singh Paonta Sahib, Dr Manjinder Singh, Ranbir Singh, and SYP head Paramjit Singh.