AMRITSAR, September 6: Representatives of Sikh organisations, human rights groups and social organisations gathered at Gurdwara Sahib in Kabir Park, Amritsar, to commemorate Bhai Jaswant Singh Khalra. The memorial programme followed the conclusion of a Sehaj Path of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji and kirtan.
Participants paid tribute to Khalra’s contribution to the struggle for human rights and called for the public release of records relating to the army assault on Sri Darbar Sahib and alleged fake police encounters in Punjab.
The gathering also remembered those whose bodies were allegedly cremated as unidentified or disposed of in rivers and canals during Punjab’s years of conflict. Speakers said the full truth about these cases must be established and urged the authorities to make the relevant records public.
In resolutions adopted at the programme, participants appealed to the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) to display photographs of Sikh youths killed in police encounters, whether alleged to be staged or otherwise, at the Central Sikh Museum. They also demanded the disclosure of files concerning the army assault on Sri Darbar Sahib.
Another resolution urged Sri Akal Takht Sahib to establish a commission to investigate the army assault and alleged extrajudicial killings, saying such an inquiry was necessary to uncover the truth and identify those responsible.
The gathering paid tribute to Bhai Dilawar Singh Babbar and demanded that Bhai Balwant Singh Rajoana’s death sentence be revoked and that he be released. Participants also sought the release of Sikh prisoners, including Bhai Jagtar Singh Hawara, Bhai Jagtar Singh Tara, Bhai Paramjit Singh Bheora, Bhai Davinderpal Singh Bhullar, Bhai Gurdeep Singh Khera, Bhai Shamsher Singh, Bhai Lakhwinder Singh and Bhai Gurmeet Singh.
The release of Khadoor Sahib MP Bhai Amritpal Singh was also demanded. Speakers urged the central and state governments to take steps towards securing the release of Sikh detainees.
A separate resolution called for an independent commission to examine the assets of leaders belonging to political parties that have held power. Organisers criticised the policies of the Congress, BJP, Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal) and Aam Aadmi Party, and appealed to Sri Akal Takht Sahib to take a firm position regarding these parties.
Speakers also discussed the Sikh concept of Halemi Raj, describing it as a system of compassionate and just governance rooted in the teachings of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji. Referring to the Kartarpur Sahib model, they said a social order based on equality, justice and the welfare of all could help establish lasting peace.
Addressing the gathering, Tarsem Singh, father of Bhai Amritpal Singh, described Khalra’s sacrifice as unparalleled and said his struggle for human rights would never be forgotten. He also acknowledged the contribution and sacrifices of Bibi Paramjit Kaur Khalra and the Khalra Mission team.
Senior advocate and Punjab Human Rights Organisation leader Rajvinder Singh Bains said those who sought to physically eliminate Khalra had failed to erase his ideas or his work. He said Khalra’s photographs being displayed in many gurdwaras reflected the respect people continued to hold for him.
Bains said substantial information had emerged about people cremated as unidentified, while far less was known about those allegedly disposed of in rivers and canals. He referred to claims that the number of people cremated as unidentified could reach 17,000 and said a petition concerning the matter had been filed in the High Court.
Advocate Jagdeep Singh Randhawa called on the SGPC to withdraw the award it had given to former police officer Iqbal Singh Lalpura. He also said a people’s commission was needed to establish the full truth about alleged fake encounters in Punjab.
Others who addressed the gathering included Sarabjit Singh Ghuman, Bhai Narain Singh Chaura, Bhai Virsa Singh Behla, Bhai Satwant Singh Manak, Hardial Singh Ghariala, Professor Baljinder Singh of the Hawara Committee, Daljinder Kaur, Bhai Jasbir Singh Ghumman, Baba Darshan Singh and Bhai Harmandeep Singh Sarhali. Kavishar Bhai Nishan Singh Jhabal also attended.
A large number of members of the sangat, activists and representatives of Sikh organisations were present. Families of those commemorated as martyrs were honoured with siropas, along with Bibi Lakhwinder Kaur, wife of Khalra case witness Kirpal Singh Randhawa.
