Jalandhar, August 22
Releasing a list of 60 incidents and cases of alleged discrimination against the Sikhs in independent India, Dal Khalsa today announced that it would take up these cases at an appropriate international forum in the future and seek justice for the community.

Speaking at a seminar on “60 years of Sikhs in independent India”, organised by Dal Khalsa, a number of scholars and political leaders claimed that the Sikhs were not happy with India and they were awaiting their tryst with destiny under a new dispensation.

The Sikh organisation also came hard on the media and accused it of not presenting the “actual picture” of the country during commemoration of the 60 years of Independence.

“Newspapers, magazines and television channels are filled with euphoria about the years gone-by. Do just 60 heroes, 60 books, 60 leaders, 60 achievements, 60 sportspersons present the complete picture? How about 60 incidents that should put India to shame,” said one of the resolutions passed at the seminar.

The resolution questioned as to whether the media had forgotten those “false sedition cases” which were slapped against leading human rights activists like Aurobindo Ghose, Amiya Rao and others in 1985 when they had tabulated gross human rights abuses by the Indian security agencies during Operation Woodrose.

“How can we forget that in broad daylight, in Delhi, which is the seat of power of the country and emissaries from all over the globe, Sikhs were burnt alive with tyres around their necks? What about the Nellie massacre in Assam? Only the insane would ignore the blinding of undertrials by the police in Bhagalpur and the recent vicious genocidal attacks against Muslims in Gujarat. What about 60 religious, social and political activists who had been detained under various unlawful provisions of Indian draconian laws like TADA and POTA?” questioned the resolution.

The 60-point list, called a “charge sheet” against the Indian government, states that “Guru Nanak challenged the fundamentals of Brahaminism and other schools of social, religious and cultural domination. This confrontation continues. The Sikh religio-political ideology is clear and unambiguous. The Sikhs are sovereign people. The Sikh nation crafted and nurtured by the Gurus can grow and prosper in an environment devoid of hindrances and subjugation. The Sikh people will not submit themselves to another state authority. This is the genesis of the Sikh case.”

Speakers rued the decision of their forefathers who had tied the destiny of the Sikhs with India.

Dal Khalsa president Satnam Singh Paonta Sahib appealed to the audience to support Dal Khalsa in their “holy pursuit for the glory of the Khalsa and the re-establishment of Sarkar-e-Khalsa.”

Another Dal Khalsa leader Harcharnjit Singh Dhami ridiculed the celebrations of 60 years of Independence and urged the gathering not to forget various actions taken by the Government of India against the Sikhs. “Whenever we had asked for our rights, we had to face bullets, detention and hardships,” said general secretary Kanwarpal Singh.

Former MP Harinder Singh Khalsa, former minister Manjit Singh Calcutta, Dr Gurdharshan Singh Dhillon and Karamjit Singh also spoke on the occasion. The others who were present included convener of the Khalsa Action Committee Bhai Mohkam Singh, Sikh Students Federation president Paramjit Singh Gazi, Sikh Khalsa Panchayat chairman Rajinder Singh and Dalbir Singh.

Nawanshahr, August 22
An amicable solution to end the deadlock between the district administration and the Tehsil Welfare Association over the issue of construction of pucca booths in place of kiosks, seems possible now. The plan would also ensure sprucing up of the district administrative complex. About two years ago, the deadlock occurred, hindering the construction of pucca booths for typists, stamp-paper vendors, etc., in the complex.

Though the district boasts of the best infrastructure facilities in the district administrative complex, the presence of kiosks set up by typists, stamp vendors, photostat shop owners, etc., has been proving an eyesore.

The district administrative complex was spruced up during the tenure of former deputy commissioner Krishan Kumar. A Suvidha Centre and Suvidha Canteen were constructed during his term. New look was given to the offices of the deputy commissioner and sub-registrar. Besides, the kiosks were shifted to a nearby area. Roads were widened and parking lots set up in the complex.

During this period, the 65-member Tehsil Welfare Committee, with Chet Ram Rattan as its president, was registered and a blueprint of the building prepared. According to the mutual understanding, the members of the association had to deposit Rs 30,000 each with the association for undertaking construction work of booths.

According to the suggestion given by the former DC, the booths were to be constructed upstairs and the ground floor was to be utilised for parking purposes. But the members of the association were apprehensive that this would have adverse effect on their business. They wanted the pucca booths on the ground floor.

The difference of opinion created a deadlock to the extent that the association members even staged a dharna and blocked traffic on the Chandigarh road here. As a result the plan to construct pucca booths died its own death.

Chet Ram has taken up the matter again. He met local MLA Jatinder Singh Kariha and ADC Pritam Singh Johal a week ago. Chet Ram claimed that the MLA and the ADC took keen interest in the plan. On the meeting with deputy commissioner Gurpal Singh Bhatti, Chet Ram said the DC promised to resolve the deadlock. 

Kapurthala, August 22
The police has arrested three persons for possessing fake currency worth Rs 60,000. SSP Rakesh Agarwal, in a statement here, stated that the three accused were Gurwinder Singh, alias Bittu, Parminder Singh, alias Ruby, and Ravinder Kumar. The accused had brought the fake currency from Delhi allegedly to circulate it in Kapurthala and Jalandhar. The arrests were made on the basis of information received by Kapurthala DSP Sukhdev Singh, the SSP said. — TNS