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Sikhs join Kashmiris to mark
Indian Independence day
as “black day”
WSN Network
LONDON: The
UK-based Sikh Diaspora marked India’s Independence Day by organising
a major demonstration before the country’s diplomatic mission in
support of their rights. They joined Kashmiris in highlighting their
plight and sought the right to self-determination as enshrined in
international law.
The Sikh leaders
termed India as 'Hindutva oriented state’ which has been put on a US
Congress watch list for violent suppression of religious minorities.
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Leading Kashmiris and Sikhs spoke in unison, not only in favour of freedom
but also in opposing India’s claim to a seat in the UN Security
Council. They pointed out the naivety and irresponsibility of
allowing what they called a serial violator of international law and
human rights into one of the ultimate law enforcing world bodies.
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Massive and
systematic human rights abuses in Indian Punjab and Kashmir, which
together have resulted in hundreds of thousands of deaths, were
condemned by leaders of both communities who called for Indian
political and security officials to be brought to justice by UN
established international courts.
The Federation of
Sikh Organisations,
UK
organised the rally. Leading Kashmiris and Sikhs spoke in unison,
not only in favour of freedom but also in opposing
India’s
claim to a seat in the UN Security Council. They pointed out the
naivety and irresponsibility of allowing what they called a serial
violator of international law and human rights into one of the
ultimate law enforcing world bodies.
Amrik Singh Sahota,
President, Council of Khalistan, referred to the recent panic in the
Indian media over a paper produced by a leading Chinese Foreign
Policy think tank which proposed the dismemberment of the artificial
Indian state into nation states which would produce stability and
prosperity to the region.
He said it was
ironic that India, on its independence day, was having to reflect on
that inevitable outcome. Mohammad Ghalib, President,
Tehreek-e-Kashmir, said it was better that India recognised that the
aspiration for freedom could not be indefinitely suppressed and it
should peacefully and voluntarily come to the negotiating table so
that the process could be undertaken in an orderly fashion in
accordance with the democratic wishes of the affected peoples.
Sikh leaders also
attended a roundtable conference organised by the World Kashmir
Freedom Movement which condemned
India’s
attempts to create a divide between the two aspirant nations.
Sikh and Kashmiri
leaders affirmed their solidarity and pledged to continue working
together, both in their homelands and internationally, to secure
justice and freedom.
19
August 2009
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