NEW YORK: World Sikh Organization is holding a Week long candle light vigil outside United Nations headquarters here to draw the attention of the world community to the struggles of the Sikh minority in Punjab, India. Batches of five Sikhs will participate in the vigil and large number of protesters will join the every evening for the candle light vigil. S, Manohar Singh Grewal, President W.S.O. (USS.A.) and S. Jagiit Singh Mangat, President Sikh Cultural Society, New York, participated in the first batch that began the vigil on September 21, 1987. The vigil will continue for five days, the vigil is to high light the following issues:

  1. The civil, constitutional and Fundamental Human Rights of the Sikh minority in Punjab are being violated by the Gandhi Regime in India.
  2. Police and paramilitary forces of the Government of India are continuing their reign of terror for the fourth consecutive year. The brutality and atrocities against the Sikh youth are unparalleled in recent history.

3, The Gandhi regime refuses to allow foreign press for independent observers to visit Punjab to investigate and assess the situation, ‘Amnesty International, International Red Cross, Members of the USS. Congress, Members of the British and Canadian Parliament have all been denied entry. 4. The complicity of the World community and U.S. Government in accepting the campaign of disinformation and blatant lies of the government is evident; The Sikhs who are fighting for their very survival and defending their basic human rights are being labeled as “terrorists” and “extremists”. 5. Thousands of Sikhs living. Abroad are denied their rights to visit the place of their birth, visit with their relatives or to pay homage to the Golden Temple, the holiest of the Sikh Shrines and the highest seat of Sikh Authority. 6. For the ninth time, the duly elected government has been dissolved and Punjab has been placed under direct rule from the Center. The government is not interested in a negotiated settlement of the disputes and has gone back on its promises and accords duly signed by Rajiv Gandhi,

The vigil is being coordinated by Dr. Naunihal Singh, Director Administration.

 

Article extracted from this publication >>  September 25, 1987