Conflict
Sikh students’ group releases ‘fact finding report’ on Kashmir, demands demilitarization, referendum
Jalandhar: Punjab based Sikh students’ group, Punjab Students Union, organized a convention and march for the ‘right to self determination’ of Kashmiris and the resolution of the Kashmir issue.
Advocate Babar Qadri, Human Rights Activist Gautam Navlakha and Professor Jagmohan Singh, who is the nephew of Indian freedom fighter Baghat Singh, spoke at the event.
The Union said that it had sent a ‘fact finding team’ to Kashmir a few months ago, who had met with students, Kashmiri Pandits, journalists and Hurriyat leaders.
The event also saw the launch of the report complied by the union.
In a statement, PSU said that Kashmir should be demilitarized and the people should be allowed a referendum by which they can decide their future and exercise their political right.
According to the statement of the Union, the activists of Shiv Sena had tried to stop the convention by approaching the civil administration, however, the union went ahead with their schedule.
“They enforced section 144 in the area but we carried on with our protest march and it went as planned,” the statement read.
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The statement further added that the Union will organize such events, in the future too.
This is not for the first time that Sikh organizations have spoken about Kashmir issue.
Recently a picture of slain Hizb Commander Burhan Wani appeared on the cover of a magazine which hailed him as a ‘Hero of Freedom of Kashmir’. The magazine was being sold at the Shaheedi Jor Mela in Fatehgarh Sahib, the Indian Express had reported. Shaheed Jor mela is held annually to commemorate the ‘martyrdom’ of Sahibzada Baba Zorawar Singh and Sahibzada Baba Fateh Singh, the young sons of the 10th Sikh master, Guru Gobind Singh.
According to the report by Jagdeep Singh, the magazine was being sold in a big stall manned by supporters of SAD (Amritsar), near the Rauza Sharif, amidst other radical material including books, car stickers, badges on Khalistani militants including Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale.
Last year the Dal Khalsa, while paying respect to Burhan Wani, said that Kashmir’s brave-heart’s martyrdom has ‘infused new life in the movement’.
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Dal Khalsa is a Sikh organisation, based in the city of Amritsar. The organisation was formed in 1978 and came to prominence under the inspiration and time of Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale in 1981. They claim that the primary aim of Dal Khalsa is to achieve the independence of the Punjabi-speaking Sikh majority region of North West India through peaceful and democratic means in order to establish a sovereign Sikh state, Khalistan.
The organization, every year has been calling to observe India’s Republic Day as ‘Black day’ or the ‘Day of Deceit’.
Addressing the press conference recently, party president H S Cheema said their group would hold a protest rally against constitutional wrongs, discrimination and denials on January 26 at Mansa. “Our activists will hold protest by waving black flags to mark the day as black republic day,” Cheema had said.
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