WASHINGTONDC July 1 1994: Approximately 30. young Sikhs gathered at the Indian Consulate in remembrance of the June 1984 Golden Temple Massacre. Holding a two hour candlelight vigil the Sikh youth reflected on Indian government barbarism during the past 10 years and reaffirmed the need for an independent sovereign Khalistan. The vigil is the second of its kind in the past month a previous vigil by Sikh youth was held at the Indian Consulate in New York on June 18 1994 A third vigil is planned for July 15 1994 at the Indian Consulate in San Francisco. Vigil attendees began the night by reciting the Sikh evening prayer Rehras Sahib Afterwards each attendee took tums reading from eye-witness accounts of the Golden Temple massacre These taken from the book Oppression in Punjab (which is still banned in India) shocked and dismayed many of the attendees. Testimonials of Indian government torture from the past 10 years were also read. They brought my $on into the room. They held him by his hair and kicked him. Then he was forced to sit on the floor and they Stretched his legs apart about five or six times read Paramjeet Kaur from a torture victims statement Taken from the new May 1994 Human Rights Waich report Dead Silence: The Legacy of Abuses in Punjab these recent stories of Indian-sponsored murder rape and torture hammered home the point that there is no peace in Punjab Khalistan.
The youth vigil organized by the Council of Khalistan was held to educate the younger generation on the June 1984 Golden Temple Massacre and the need for an independent Khalistan. The new generation of Sikhs in the America must not let the Indian Government atrocities of the past be forgotten said Amardeep Singh Bhalla. Youth Advisor to Dr. Gurmit Singh Aulakh of the Council of Khalistan. The young Sikhs of this country realize that Khalistan is the only way that the Sikh nation will enjoy life liberty and the pursuit of happiness With their energy we will be able to visit a sovereign independent Khalistan by 1999. Parmjit Kaur agreed adding Ultimately it is Our generation that must travel the road to a free Khalistan And all of us gathered here are whole heartedly committed to the journey.
Article extracted from this publication >> July 8, 1994
