Washington/ Chandigarh: The White House has responded to a petition titled: “August 15th is NOT Independence Day For Sikhs. SUPPORT the Liberation of Indian Occupied Punjab to Create KHALISTAN”. The petition was created under initials G. P. on July 10, 2016 and it had secured support of 1,06,703 signatures.
A Screenshot from White House website
While the White House has responded to the petition, it has refrained form addressing the issue of “supporting the liberation of Indian Occupied Punjab to create Khalistan”.
“While we appreciate your participation on this platform, we cannot comment here on the specific policy issue raised in your petition”, reads response by the White House.
Full Text of Response by the White House reads as follows:
A response for your petition on Sikh independence
Thank you for expressing your views in this petition.
President Obama has made it a priority to promote and protect religious freedom for all people, both at home and abroad. In an address to the
people of India in 2015, President Obama reaffirmed the universal right for those who practice faith to do so as they choose and without fear of
persecution.“The peace we seek in the world begins in human hearts. And it finds its glorious expression when we look beyond any differences in religion or tribe, and rejoice in the beauty of every soul. And nowhere is that more important than India. Nowhere is it going to be more necessary for that foundational value to be upheld. India will succeed so long as it is not splintered along the lines of religious faith — so long as it’s not splintered along any lines — and is unified as one nation.”
The United States has monitored and publicly reported on human rights issues, including the atrocities committed against members of the Sikh community during the 1984 violence in India. For example, the State Department’s Official Country Reports on Human Rights Practices covered the violence and its aftermath in considerable detail. We will continue to report on important human rights concerns, and State Department reports are available to the public.
While we appreciate your participation on this platform, we cannot comment here on the specific policy issue raised in your
petition. You can read the full Terms of Participation here to understand why We the People is designed the way it is, and to learn more about its guidelines for use.Thanks for using this platform to engage with your government.
Full Text of petition reads as follows:
WE THE PEOPLE ASK THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO TAKE OR EXPLAIN A POSITION ON AN ISSUE OR POLICY:
August 15th is NOT Independence Day For Sikhs. SUPPORT the Liberation of Indian Occupied Punjab to Create “KHALISTAN”.
Created by G.P. on July 10, 2016
1947 did not bring independence for Sikhs in India where followers of Sikhism, the world’s 5th largest religion are labeled as “Hindus”; Sikh Golden Temple was destroyed by Indian Army; Sikhs were subjected to genocide in Nov 84 and thousands were extra-judicially killed by security forces for demanding right to self determination.
Sikhs demand the Independence of Punjab, their historical homeland, BECAUSE Sikhs:
– Have a separate religion;
– Are the indigenous people of Punjab; and
– Have been subjected to genocide in India;
THUS, Sikhs have the right to self-determination under Article 1 of:
– International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights ; and
– International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.
WE URGE America to Support the Independence of Indian Occupied PUNJAB.
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