A Sikh organisation Dal Khalsa on Friday demanded immediate demilitarization of Kashmir and political resolution to the Kashmir conflict in consonance with the genuine aspirations of its people.
While Observing the ‘Kashmir Solidarity day’, the Dal Khalsa held a demonstration in Jalandhar today to raise voice against the killings of unarmed Kashmiri protesters and civilians in police firing and expressed its dismay over the use of pellet guns that had blinded the innocent children as young as four year old.
Hundreds of activists stood at city’s busiest Chowk holding Sikh flags, placards and banners to convey their message, a statement said. They marched towards nearby Gurdwara and perform prayers to pay homage to victims who fell to the bullets of the armed forces in the valley ever since the death of a “charismatic” militant commander Burhan Wani that inspired rage among young Kashmiris and a violent response from the state authorities.
In its policy statement released during the protest the Dal Khalsa stated that the rightful aspirations of the people of Kashmir should be respected and they should be given the free, fair and unfettered opportunity to express their desire through the universally accepted right to self-determination.
One of the placard carried the message of ‘Sikh Nation stands with Kashmiri Nation’ and ‘Right to self-determination is alienable right of every nationality”. “Withdraw army, Return Kashmir to its people, repeal AFSPA and stop killing innocent civilians”, reads another one.
Party president Advocate Harpal Singh Cheema said no democracy can thrive through terror and domination. He said the violence, rape and maiming of the Kashmiri people was big blot on Indian democracy. He said the state terrorism can’t kill the genuine political aspirations of the people of Kashmir.
Hitting at Punjab’s political parties for maintaining studied silence, he said the AAP and SAD in Punjab must speak out whether they were with oppressor or oppressed people.
Activists of Akhand Kirtani Jatha (a religious body), Sikh Youth of Punjab and Sikh Students Federation also participated in the demonstration, the statement added.