Amritsar, Punjab (June 05, 2014): Reiterating their call for Amritsar Bandh on June 6 to protest against the army assault on Darbar Sahib some 30 years ago, the Dal Khalsa said the pain of the deadly attack is fresh and the wounds of the attack still simmer.
“The assault was the logical culmination of a very long-standing policy of state interference into religious matters. What was apparent then, and what has become clearer with hindsight is that the attack ordered by Government of India on the highest seat of religion of the Sikhs in June 1984 was intended to hurt Sikh psyche, humiliate entire Sikh people, to attack their dignity and their struggle for rights and freedom”.
The resolution to this effect was passed during a conference organized by Dal Khalsa along with its like-minded groups to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the operation blue star.
The young generation associated with Dal Khalsa also took out a Genocide Remembrance Parade on the streets of Amritsar displaying photographs of damaged Akal Takht and Sikh martyrs who died during the operation while fighting against the army. Carrying saffron flags and placards and wearing T-shirts on which it was depicted that wounds of the attack simmer and struggle continues, they marched raising slogans in favour of Sikh independence from Indian yoke.
Ghallughara Memorial March (5 June 2014) – Images Gallery:
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Addressing the spirited protest party head H S Dhami praised Sant Jarnail Singh Bhindrawale and his colleagues for their bravery. He said ‘the fighting against India’s army was heroic and took place under impossible conditions. He urged youth to demonstrate courage, resolve and steadfastness as, according to him, “Freedom is not given to a nation on platter but it is achieved by offering supreme sacrifices.”
“We can achieve our goal while adhering to democratic and peaceful means if we together move ahead in one direction,” said Dhami while stressing for unity of thought and action among the people to take the ongoing freedom struggle to its logical end.
He said what Gen Dyer means to Indians, Gen K Brar means to Sikhs. Striking an emotional chord, he said thousands of innocent pilgrims, SGPC employees, political activists and volunteers were slaughtered by the forces during the attack.
He said since Indian state ordered the attack, we don’t expect any justice from it. Appealing to the UN and the world powers to put Gen (retd) Brar and others who commanded the attack on trail for war-crimes, he said many innocent pilgrims were shot and bombed after they were arrested and their hands tied.
He said Operation Blue Star was not something sudden and unexpected, as it has been revealed recently how Indian government led by its PM Indira Gandhi took advices and other forms of support from world powers including the UK. All lies, pretexts and disinformation spread by Indian leadership stand exposed.
Party spokesperson Kanwar Pal Singh said operation Blue Star was a defining event in Indian politics in the sense that it institutionalized anarchy and violence against the people as the preferred state policy and opened the path for such infamies. He said the repressive policies of the state are still in place. Punjab and Kashmir was, is and will be at the center of the solution of the problems of South Asia, said he. Whenever there will be a war between India and Pakistan, besides any other place, both these places will be the bulls-eye of destruction. Similarly, if the Punjab and Kashmiri nation can be guaranteed the right to self-determination in today’s world, it will be an immense contribution for all the nations of South Asia and there could be a lasting peace in this region.
SAD (Panch Pardani) working president Harpal Singh Cheema, general secretary Mandhir Singh, Satnam Singh Paonta Sahib, Sarbjit SIngh Ghuman and SYP head Nobeljit Singh also spoke.