UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Ambassador José AyalaLasso, had just addressed a ‘press conference,’ on May 6, 1995, in Delhi, after his visit to Srinagar the summer capital of the disputed State of Jammu and Kashmir, that the Indian troops laying a siege 10535 year old shrine of Sufi saint NoorudDinNoorani since March 8,195, stormed it.
Ambassador Lasso, had also expressed his bitter unease in relation to Human Rights abuse in Punjab. His brief meeting with President Punjab Human Rights Organization Justice Ajit Singh Bains, Convenor Movement Against Governmental Oppression Inderjeet Singh Jaiji and Sri Ranjan Lakhanpal the prominent Human Rights case lawyer, may have been extremely helpful, in exposing the gross and systematic abuse of human rights, behind the drawn shutters in Kashmir and Punjab. ‘The scars inflicted by operation “Blue Star’ in the desecration of Darbar Sahib Amnitsar’ Golden Temple,” are Still fresh that operation “Shanti,” was executed by Indian Government, to desecrate a535 year old shrine of Sufi saint NoorudDin Noorani. He found. the Rishi cult preaching nonviolence and religious tolerance. Muslims called him) Alamdari Kashmir ‘and to other faiths he was ‘Nund Rishi,” His shrine was the bedrock of intercommunity understanding over the centuries. Sikh community has ‘Chatti Padshai’ at Baramullain Kashmir and has remained sympathetic to all oppressed faiths, It is therefore important to apprise the Sikh community, that the operation ‘Shanti’ to desecrate the CharareSharief was led by Brigadier Mohinder Singh. This Sikh officer has done no service to his office or Sikh cause. It will go down very adversely against the noble traditions of ‘Khalsa Panth.”
Tam sure that the tenth Guru of Sikhs Guru Gobind Singh Ji 296 years ago found the Khalsa Panth, for emancipating the oppressed and for tendering the ailing human kind.
Brigadier Mohinder Singh, has breached the sacred code of Khalsa Panth and committed a crime against humanity. He has hurt the religious feelings of Muslims all over the world.
Your community shall be aggrieved to know that, the Arabian dress of Fatima, daughter of Prophet ‘Mohammad (PBUH) and several other religious relics were also put to torch and have been lost forever. The town has been destroyed. Person and property has suffered destruction. Brigadier Mohinder Singh drew his close quarter battle (CQB) teams from the army’s crack Jat, Kumaon and Guards regiments, rained at the school ‘of Counterinsurgency and Jungle ‘warfare in Mizoram for his infamous operation “Shanti,” to destroy the holy shrine. The best rained troops and drawn from all prided schools, remain damned for times to come as destroyers of a ‘fountain of hope for people of all faiths.” ‘The ‘Eleventh Annual International Khalistan Convention! of the Republic of Khalistan in Exile falls on June 24 & 25, You are requested to read out this communication to the August gathering of Khalsas meeting at Gurdwara Singh Sabha, Slough I am sure the Sikh community would regard Brigadier Mohinder Singh’s action against Muslim shrine serious affront to the noble code of Khalsa Panth and apportion an appropriate sentence to Mohinder Singh for his sacrilege.
Our NGO has upheld the Sikh cause and JKCHR’s cooperation with Sikh community during UN World Conference on Human Rights in Vienna Austria, in June 93 and during UN GA, UN ECOSOC meetings, UN Human Rights Commission and Sub ‘Commission Sessions in New York and Genevais very well documented.
I have enjoyed a close working relationship and understanding of common issues, with Sajjan Singh Bhangoo the Executive Director of Canada based World Sikh Organization and alternate elected member on UN/NLC on Behalf of Unrepresented Peoples and Nations. WSO has condemned the act of sacrilege at CharareSharief.
I am sure the Sikh congregation at the 11th Convention, would endeavor of inform its community in India and all over the world, to remain vigilant, against attempts of being duped into acts of sacrilege. Please rest assured of our best regards and highest considerations Syed Nazir Gilani Jammu & Kashmir Council for Human Rights.
Article extracted from this publication >> June 16, 1995
