AMRITSAR: The Council of Khalistan has appealed to the acting jathedar of the Akal Takt, Manjit Singh, to extend support to, the demand of Khalistan by issuing a “hukamnama,” directing the Khalsa Panth to launch a “mass movement for independence.

This appeal by the Council of Khalistan has been made through an “open letter” written to the acting jathedar, Copies of the letter have also been sent to a large number of intellectuals in Punjab. Appreciating the religious and intellectual qualities of the jathedar the letter states, “You find yourself in a position of great influence. It is your duty to stand up for the Khalsa Panth.” The communication of the council, which is based in Washington, D,.C., has been signed by its president Gurmit Singh Aulakh it was received by certain intellectuals of Guru Nanak Dey University, Amritsar, Punjab University, Chandigarh, and Punjabi University, Patiala, on May 25,

Continuing its plea urging the Jathedar to support the cause of Khalistan, the letter said: “You should understand that as a nation, Sikhs are quite literally under siege. Rape, torture and murder is endemic. | need not remind that your predecessor Bhai Gurdey Singh Kaonke was murdered by the Indian police. Therefore you must fulfill your duty, Raising the voice of Khalistan,”

It also urged the jathedar to “tell India to quit Khalistan.” The communication maintained that, on January 24 last, Khalistan was admitted as a full member of the “Un presented Nations and Peoples’ Organization (UNPO)” linked with the United Nations, It was at Hague, the same day, that a delegation led by Aulakh, ac companied by Pramjit Singh and Bhupnder Singh, had participated in the meeting of “UNPO.”

“Earlier,” the letter said, “Nagaland’s guerrillas secured the same status at the United Nations,” The lever claimed that the grant of status of “UNPO” for Khalistan and also recognition of its “kesrnishan” as its flag was a “major milestone” in the struggle for in dependence of the Sikhs. Aulakh also asked Manpt Singh to declare the Punjab Chief Minister, Beant Singh and DGP K.P.S.Gill, as “tanhaivas.”

Article extracted from this publication >>  June 4, 1993