New York: Recently the World Sikh Parliament USA (WSP-USA) and Canada (WSP-Canada) regions met in Queens, New York for a two-day session to discuss the issues impacting the Sikh community globally.
The event began with Ardas, the Sikh prayer, recited by Assistant Treasurer S. Karnail Singh from California.
Himmat Singh, coordinator of the World Sikh Parliament said, “This session is the first joint session with USA and Canada under a common objective to address challenges faced by the Sikh community at all fronts. The Jathedar of the World Sikh Parliament, Bhai Jagtar Singh Hawara, a political prisoner in the Indian jail has requested that Sikh community to practice their faith without any fear. Sikhs are a Sovereign Nation. The Sikh youth should join the different councils and play a key role in establishing the Sikh homeland.”
Dr Amarjit Singh, speaker of the USA region said, “ We need to work together for the betterment of the Panth. The World Sikh Parliament is an umbrella and an answer to those who say there is no leadership in the Sikh Panth. This is the concept of collective leadership.
The coordinator of the UN and NGO council, Swaranjit Singh said “The United Nations NGO council is working with the United Nation and the member states bringing awareness on situation of the Sikh globally and the steps they need to take”
Harman Kaur, secretary of the World Sikh Parliament in the USA said, “The World Sikh Parliament has an open call for the youth to join and assist with the World Sikh Parliament projects”
Dr Hardam Singh Azad co-speaker of the WSP said, “World Sikh Parliament is establishing a basis for building up the Sikh nation that has been under attack through systematic policies. We made progress in highlighting these and working on strategies for legal actions in that regard through our councils.”
The Speaker for the Canadian region, S. Suneet Singh said, “A 100 years after the formation of the SGPC, we’ve unfortunately seen it deteriorate and become non-representative of the Sikh view point. The World Sikh Parliament is finally an opportunity for Sikh organizations around the world to unite and have a common platform to discuss their issues and have their voice hear.”
The World Sikh Parliament came into effect after a resolution of the Sarbat Khalsa (gathering of the Sikh nation) held in Punjab on 10th November 2015. The World Sikh Parliament a sovereign body pledges to work with the offices of the UN and human rights bodies to secure justice for the millions of Sikhs suffering the oppression and brutality of the Indian state. The World Sikh Parliament supports in spirit the internationally accepted universal human rights, as set out in the UN Charter, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the 1966 Covenants on Human Rights – a key to a civilized world order. The theological and political ideology of the Sikhs includes a duty to pursue justice and wellbeing for all, irrespective of caste, creed or color.
The session ended with a press-conference discussing their current updates.
ਇਹ ਵੀ ਪੜ੍ਹੋ – ਵਰਲਡ ਸਿੱਖ ਪਾਰਲੀਮੈਂਟ ਦੇ ਅਮਰੀਕਾ-ਕਨੇਡਾ ਦੇ ਨੁਮਾਇੰਦਿਆਂ ਦੀ ਇਕੱਤਰਤਾ ਹੋਈ