Author Hardeep Singh 

CHANDIGARH Protests staged by farmers and Sikh bodies against the anti-people and anti-minorities policies of the governments on Thursday spoiled the celebrations of Indian Independence Day in India-administered Punjab. A sizable section of Sikh nation observed this day as ‘Black Day’, remaining members of the community stayed away from the celebrations organized by the government. 

The Government of India left no stone unturned to ensure participation of the civilians in the celebrations by launching ‘Har Ghar Tiranga’ campaign which invited the people to bring the Tiranga, Indian National Flag, into their homes and proudly hoist it in celebration of “independence”. However, in Punjab, this call evoked a dull response.

On the other hand, members of the Sikh community staged protests against Indian establishment across Punjab on the call of pro-freedom Sikh political parties Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) and Dal Khalsa. They demonstrated in all the districts carrying black flags and placards exposing subjugation and excesses unleashed by the Indian regime on Sikhs. They observed the Indian I-Day as black day. 

An impressive protest march was taken out in Tarn Taran town from the old court complex to the entrance of Gurdwara Sri Darbar Sahib Patshahi Panjwin. Members of the Muslim community also took part in the march to protest the atrocities being committed against minorities in India allegedly under the patronage of the governments.  Hundreds of Sikhs took to the streets against 77 years of injustices.

While interacting with media in Tarn Taran, SAD (A) leader and former Member of Parliament Simranjit Singh Mann said, “Notwithstanding Sikhs made the biggest sacrifice to liberate India from British Rule, they are living as slaves both in India and Pakistan. They are being deprived of exercising their right to self-determination”. 

Flagging the issue of assassinations of pro-freedom Sikh leaders including Hardeep Singh Nijjar, Mann said, “No mainstream political party is able to speak on this issue. I have approached leaders of all major political parties of India and urged them to take up this issue in the parliament, but to no avail. So, nobody is ready to talk for Sikhs in this country”.

It is pertinent to mention here that some youths taking part in the march were seen carrying the placards that termed 15 August as ‘Slavery Day’. 

Tractor Marchs and burning of new Indian criminal laws  

Pertinently, the Sikh farmers under the banners of Sanyukt Kisan Morcha (Non political) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha took out Tractor Marches across the state in protest against three criminal laws recently enacted by Government of India to “suppress” the civil liberties and tight noose around the people struggling for their fundamental rights. 

These three new criminal laws are “Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita,”, “Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita,” and the “Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam,” which replaced the Indian Penal Code (IPC), the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), and the Indian Evidence Act respectively. 

Thousands of farmers participated in these Marches in all cities, towns and big villages in Punjab. They raised slogans against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah, who are leaders of the Hindutva government of India. During the demonstrations, they also burnt copies of the three criminal laws allegedly enacted to abuse human rights.

The farmers are already undertaking protests on the Punjab-Haryana border for the last 200 days to get their demands met. 

‘No reason for celebrating I-Day’; ‘one of the worst tragedy of human history’

In Amritsar, peaceniks owing allegiance to different organizations including Hind-Pak Dosti Manch, Folklore Research Academy Amritsar, Pakistan-India People’s Forum for Peace and Democracy, South Asia Free Media Association (SAFMA) and Sarbat Da Bhala Trust organized India-Pakistan Friendship Festival on the eve of the I-Day. On the occasion, they observed the anniversary of partition and destruction of Punjab in 1947. 

They asserted that they have no reason to celebrate the day as 10 Lakh people were killed during the bloodshed in 1947 and Punjab was divided. They said lakhs of people were uprooted and displaced on communal lines during the partition and it was one of the worst tragedies of the human history. 

Photo caption: Peaceniks and activists gathered at Khalsa College Amritsar to pay tribute to partition victims

“We express deep concern on the increasing incidents of violence against the minorities and forcible religious conversions in India and neighbouring countries and condemn such incidents. We demand from the governments of these countries that they should honour the Nehru-Liakat Ali pact signed in New Delhi in 1950 and ensure the security of life and property of minorities.  There should not be any discrimination with the minorities in any region”, reads the declaration released on the occasion.

On the intervening night of August 14 and 15, peaceniks from Pakistan-administered Punjab and India-administered Punjab gathered on both sides of the international border and organized candle vigil to give a message of peace and love.