Chandigarh: Indian state is going to observe 65th republic day today (on Jan. 26). Indian state had adopted “constitution of India” on this day in 1950. US president Barack Obama is chief guest of Indian state’s republic day celebrations.
But Sikhs inhabiting Indian subcontinent, particularly the Punjab state, are going to observe “26 January” as “black day” and “betrayal day”.
Sikh nationalist group Dal Khalsa has announced to hold protests in various parts of Punjab to “protest against Constitutional injustices and discrimination” against Sikhs by the Indian state.
Kanwar Pal said that Indian state claims to be a big democratic country in the world and celebrates 26 January as its republic day but its democratic claims are being badly exposed as it continuous to rob Punjab of its river waters by subverting the spirit of Constitution, denies democratic rights and distinct identity to Sikhs, imposes Hindu laws on Sikhs and suppresses legitimate struggle with militarily and police batons, bullets.
He called upon school children and teachers for not becoming part of the 26 January functions and said for Sikhs there was no constitutional and moral justification to celebrate these functions because there was no sign of true democracy on the ground. Dr Manjinder Singh and Ranbir Singh were also present.
Former Damdama Sahib Jathedar Giani Balwant Singh Nandgar also called upon Sikhs to host “black flags” in their vehicles, shops, houses and business enterprises to protest against India’s denial to constitutionally recognize separate Sikh identity.
Various Sikh organizations, including Shiromani Akali Dal Amritsar (Mann) has extended support to Jathedar Nandgarh’s call for observing 26 January as the black day.