Dal Khalsa Takes Out March in Bathinda Highlighting Human Rights Abuses in Punjab and Kashmir
Posted: 10 Dec 2018 07:54 AM PST
BATHINDA, Punjab—On the 70th International Human Rights Day, the Dal Khalsa held a march to seek justice for the victim families of Gurdaspur (2009) and Behbal Klan (2015) police firing incidents, to children waiting for parents who have disappeared or faced custodial deaths in 80’s and 90’s.
The Bathinda town today witnessed the March and assembly participated by political as well as social activists. The march led by Dal Khalsa reminded the society about the pain and suffering of the Sikh conflict that remains unattended to.

Activists carrying placards and the photographs of victims of state repression, who disappeared without a trace took to the city’s streets to remind the government to declare them either dead or help know their whereabouts.
The Dal Khalsa and its allied groups Malwa Youth Federation and Sikh Youth of Punjab marched on the streets to provide some succor to the victim parents and families. One of the banners they were holding carried the plea of victim mothers to the government: “If my son is dead tell me where you have cremated, if he is alive, show me his face”.

Hitting out at Modi dispensation over the increased incidents of mob lynching in Hindi heartland, speakers while taking a jibe said in Modi’s India, cows have rights, humans don’t. They carried placards with this message to put across their point of view.

“For the oppressed people who were struggling for their rights, all declarations of the United Nations are hallow and meaningless. Be it the right of self-determination, right to life or right to liberty and security, every right is denied to them,” said Dal Khalsa head Advocate Harpal Singh Cheema.“If India is not at fault, then New Delhi should allow UNHRC and Human Rights Watch to examine the cases of rights abuses in Punjab, Kashmir and other states of India,” he added.
From Punjab to Kashmir to central India, dissent is being caged and dissenting people’s rights trampled, said party’s young general secretary Paramjit Singh Tanda. To drive their point home, the protesters were carrying banners on which photographs of recently detained activists from Kashmir, Punjab and central India including Masrat Alam, Jaggi Johal, Vara Vara Rao, Prof Saibaba were displayed.
Another party leader Kanwar Pal Singh said parties vying for political power namely AAP, SAD and Congress have no human rights agenda.
Singh said that Punjab CM Captain Amarinder Singh is the new pawn in the hands of Hindutva force who wants him to be used in the India’s larger game plan to scuttle the Kartarpur corridor project and create fissures among the Sikhs. After participating in the groundbreaking ceremonies on the both side of fences, Indian leaders and their agent in Punjab (Captain Amarinder Singh) are making noises that corridor project is game plan of Pakistan army.
Captain’s outburst is purely out of egoistical reasons as he can’t digest the appreciation of Navjot Singh Sidhu, as the latter had refused to accept him as his Captain.
After undermining the supremacy of Akal Takht and doing enough damage to Sikh institutions, Badals are enacting drama at Darbar Sahib to seek forgiveness for their sins. Badals have fallen from the grace as their list and nature of their sins is too long and grave that stands unpardonable. He further said Badals should quit politics.
Social activist Lakhwinder Singh alias Lakha Sidhana addressed the gathering at Dr Ambedkar park. He took jibe at Captain Amrinder Singh for toeing Hindutva line.
Large number of lawyers from bar council also participated in the March and rally.
Before the march, the organizers performed Ardas at Gurdwara Qilla Mubarak in memory of those perished in the hands of security forces during the course of Sikh struggle beginning from 1978.