WASHINGTON,DC: A flag raising ceremony at the Indian Ambassador’s residence commemorating India’s Independence Day was given an entirely different perspective by Sikhs gathered just outside the residence gates. Coming from Maryland, Virginia, D.C. and New Jersey, Sikhs raised slogans demanding that the Indian Government withdraw its troops from the Sikh homeland. Khalistan. “For the Sikhs, as well as the Christians of Nagaland, the Muslims of Kashmir, the Assamese and other minority people and nations, there is no Independence Day,” says Dr. Gurmit Singh Aulakh, President of the Council of Khalistan, who organized the protest.”On this day, Ambassador S.S.Ray, the Butcher of Bengal, celebrates his independence day. For the Sikh nation and other occupied peoples under Indian rule, this is Imprisonment Day.”
The Ambassador’s residence did not ignore the Sikh protestors. On the contrary, they set up speakers next to the Sikhs and blasted Indian music in an attempt to drown out the voices of the Sikhs. “Even in America, the Indian Government tries to drown out our voices,” observed Pami Kaur Randhawa, a young Sikh organizer of the event. “But the fact that they play this music so loud, that the whole neighborhood is disturbed means that they feel our presence,” said the young woman. “Our voices are heard over their dirty tricks. The Sikhs want freedom, the Sikhs want Khalistan, and we will make as much noise as we need to until we achieve freedom.”
The protestors distributed materials to the media and the attendees and of the flag raising ceremony. The material described some of the most recent activities of the Indian Government against Sikhs in Khalistan, including gruesome pictures of Indian torture victims and the Indian Government’s top secret censorship order. This order required that all mail to and from religious and political Sikh organizations in Punjab, Khalistan be intercepted. The material also described the May 12 disappearance of Sukhwinder Singh Bhatti by Indian Government death squads. Bhatti was a lawyer de- fending Sikh youths charged with political crimes. Many other lawyers have been abducted by death squads. The material noted that the Indian Government has killed over 115,000 Sikhs since 1984; over 150,000 Christians and Nagaland since 1947; and over 40,000 Kashmiri Muslims since 1988. At present, there are 500,000 such forces in Punjab, Khalistan. This protest is part of an effort by Sikhs worldwide. “Independence is for all. It is for the Kashmiris, for the Tamils, for the Christians. It is for the Sikhs of Khalistan and for all other oppressed nations and peoples in India,” says Dr. Gurmit Singh Aulakh. “The Sikhs will celebrate the 300th Birthday of the Khalsa in a free Khalistan in 1999!”
Article extracted from this publication >> September 2, 1994
