Sikhs Protest at Capitol Hill During Indian Prime Minister’s Address

Posted: 09 Jun 2016

WASHINGTON DC, USA—During Modi’s address to the US Congress on June 8, hundreds rallied at Capitol Hill to highlight the continuous persecution of Sikhs, a religious minority in India.
The demonstration was aimed to raise awareness among US Congress Members about the denial of separate religious identity, right to self determination and three decades of genocidal violence against Sikhs in India.
Sikh protestors carrying placards “Modi-face of Indian terrorism” demanded an independence referendum in the state of Punjab to create separate Sikh country “Khalistan”.
“With the coming to power of Narendra Modi, a known Hindu supremacist, already marginalized Sikh community is experiencing a sharp increase in all forms of state oppression”,  stated attorney Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, legal advisor to “Sikhs For Justice” (SFJ) a US based human rights group.
“Numbering barely 2% of the population of India, the Sikh community has been at the receiving end of state ruthlessness since the past several decades — whenever it has raised its voice for its political and religious rights – separate religious identity and right to self determination – and against violation of those rights”, added attorney Pannun.
“What lies at the bottom of the controversy between the disgruntled Sikhs and the Indian Government is Article 25 of the Constitution of India which labels “Sikhs” and “Hindus” stated Amardeep Singh, SFJ’s Director International Policy.
“Offended by this constitutional assault on separate Sikh identity, what initially started as movement for separate religious identity, ultimately culminated in demand for a separate country for Sikhs in Punjab”, added Amardeep Singh.
The violent persecution of Sikhs in India started in the 1980s when the community raised its voice for its political and religious rights. In June 1984, the Indian army attacked and invaded the Golden Temple in an operation codenamed “Blue Star”, which resulted in the killing of several thousand unarmed and innocent pilgrims. In November 1984, Sikhs were subjected to genocidal violence throughout India in the aftermath of Prime Minister Gandhi’s assassination. From 1984 till 1998, over 100,000 Sikhs were extra judicially killed by the Indian security forces in the name of “counter insurgency operations”.
SFJ which organized the Sikh protest at Capitol Hill, is spearheading an international campaign for Independence Referendum 2020 in the state of Punjab currently under India rule.