OTTAWA: June S, 1993, more than 700 Sikhs from across Canada gathered at the Parliament Hill in Ottawa, to remember a very special week in the modern history of the Sikh nation. The Sikhs remembered the planned attack of the Indian Army and the destruction of the Akal Takhat and the Golden Temple. All present paid their homage to the thousands of worshippers who were killed at the hands of the Government of India during the first week of June 1984 in the Golden Temple complex; Ottawa Sikh Society hosted the event. The main speaker of the day was Dr, Amarjeet Singh, and Spokesman of the Panthak Committee. He reminded the gathering of the events that led to the attack on the Golden Temple and the atrocities being committed for the last 10 years by the cruel Nazi Government of India against Sikh men, women and children.
The rally was addressed by Beryl Gaffney Member of Parliament (Nepean) and Liberal Party human rights critic in the Canadian House of Commons. She assured the Sikhs of her support and joined in condemning the violation of the human rights of the Sikhs in India, A letter sent by David Kilgour, Liberal Member of Parliament (Edmonton) was also read, In his letter Kilgour quoted SJasbeer Singh: “Our Gurus taught us to stand for and if need be, fight for, the rights and interests of anyone oppressed and persecuted. Today our Gurus and our martyrs beckon us to realize our historic responsibilities and stand up for our rights and our very existence.” New Democratic Party of Canada was represented by Nizam Siddiqui. A memorandum to the Prime Minister of Canada was read which will be sent to his office and the offices of the leaders of the Liberal Party and New Democratic Party.
Secretary of International World Sikh Organizations (S.Karnail Singh Gill), President of International Youth Sikh Youth Federation (S.Piara Singh), Mukh Sewadar of Babbar Khalsa (S.Pal Singh). International Human Rights Organization representative (S.Avninder Singh), President Khalsa Diwan Society, Vancouver (S.Charanjit Singh) and leaders from other 10 national and local Organizations spoke on the current Punjab and Sikh affairs and the present Sikh struggle to achieve Khalistan. ‘The highlight of the event were two speeches from two teen aged Sikh girls: Ravinder Kaurand Sukh Sahaj Kaur who appealed to the leaders of Canada and other free democracies of the world to urge the Indian Government to stop immediately the atrocities committed by Indian Army, police and other paramilitary forces against the Sikhs and other minorities in India, It was a reminder that Sikhs living outside of India is directly and indirectly affected by the horrible events happening in Punjab.
The peaceful demonstration and speeches lasted for two hours and the rally ended with a pledge for a bigger demonstration next year: the 10th anniversary of the Operation Blve Star. It was proposed that next year in coincidence with this event the Sikhs of Ottawa in collaboration with other organizations should hold a symposium reviewing the events and Sikh affairs of the past 10 years.
Article extracted from this publication >> June 18, 1993
