AMRITSAR Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) and Dal Khalsa, the two major Sikh organizations fighting for the sovereignty and independence of Punjab, have jointly decided to hold a spirited protest at Tarn Taran on August 15 against Modi’s authoritarian regime, political subjugation, injustices and excesses of the Indian regime on Sikhs.

Simranjit Singh Mann’s son and leader of SAD (Amritsar) Imaan Singh Mann and Dal Khalsa working president Paramjit Singh Mand at a press conference said that hundreds of activists of both parties will took to the streets of Tarn Taran against 77 years of injustices, discrimination’s and subjugation of the Indian regime and to seek the right to self-determination under UN. 

Dal Khalsa general secretary Paramjit Singh Tanda and SAD (A) General Secretary’s Harpal Singh Blair and Upkar Singh Sandhu were also present.

The leaders of both the organizations said that they are protesting against the Indian state’s interference in the religious affairs of minorities including Sikhs, repression on Sikh leaders abroad, double standards in the release of Sikh political prisoners, illegal detentions of Sikh youths under National Security Act (NSA) and Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA). 

They further said that the extrajudicial killings of pro-freedom Sikh leaders by Indian agencies on foreign lands, labelling the Sikh freedom fighters as “terrorists” under UAPA aimed to defame the Sikh freedom-struggle was a major cause of concern. 

Terming August 15 as black day for Punjab and especially Sikhs, they said unlike Muslims and Hindus, who got their respective nations on 14 and 15 Aug 1947, Sikhs missed the bus. Since then, they are striving for their own independent nation. 

The leaders raised serious objections on three new criminal laws introduced by Modi 3.0 govt. 

It’s more stringent than previous ones, said Mand and added that the Modi govt has retained the archaic sedition law, which has been misused widespread like TADA and now UAPA. 

Dal Khalsa has already decided to hold a “Freedom March” at Hoshiarpur on August 13, on the occasion of its 46th foundation day, which will be dedicated to Bhai Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a prominent Sikh Canadian leader, who was killed by Indian agencies in Canada last year and founder of Dal Khalsa Bhai Gajinder Singh who passed away in Lahore last month.