“State Resorting to Repressive Measures & Unnecessarily Creating Chaos”: Dal Khalsa

Batala: To support and sympathize with the victims of alleged police firing, enforced disappearances and fake encounters, the Dal Khalsa has planned an assembly of affected families and activists at Batala on 9 December. The occasion will be 68th International Human Rights Day.

 Before organizing the assembly, the young activists of All India Sikh Students Federation (AISSF) and Sikh Youth of Punjab (SYP) will hold a march on the streets of the town.

From left Harpal Singh Cheema & Kawarpal Singh [File Photo]

The above datail was given by the head of Dal Khalsa Harpal Singh Cheema and spokesmen Kawarpal Singh after holding a meeting with affected families and socio-religious activists across the spectrum in this border area. They said it would be apolitical event aimed to revive the dying hopes of justice.

Representatives of this Punjab based pro freedom body said “the biggest challenge before the justice-seekers in India and Punjab was to restore the respect for human rights and rule of law. Condemning the police crackdown on Sikh activists and putting unjustly ban on Sikh conclave scheduled for Dec 8 under the nomenclature of “Sarbat Khalsa”, they said such actions of present day rulers and the administration itself speaks of dismal plight of rights situation in the state. “The Badal government was not allowing the space for dissent and unnecessarily creating chaos to reap electoral benefits”.

They are of the belive that a long battle would have to be fought for the restoration of human rights movement.  Both the leaders said there were plethora of political parties vying for political space in Punjab but ironically none was talking of human rights.

They further added to their statement that the relatives of those whose members have disappeared or killed in a fake encounter or tortured would assemble to make their voices heard. They said the march would begin after performing Ardas at gurdwara Satkartaria.