29th April 2004 was not an ordinary day. Apart from routine disciples, there were few who gathered before the Akal Takht with a very specific agenda. To seek the blessings and strength from Almighty Waheguru, Dal Khalsa performed Ardas at Almighty throne (Akal Takht). Hey Sache Patshah, Sanoo Bal atye Budhi Bakshoo, tan jo Assi Sikhi dee parfoolta laee Khalistan di sirjana kar sakeyae. (O! true Lord, bless us with courage and wisdom so that we could strive to establish Khalistan in order to make the Sikhism flourish). This is how 26 years old Sikh group once again took the initiative to launch a political campaign for the establishment of sovereign Sikh state. Timing had another advantage. When all political parties were engaged in mudslinging against each other to woo the voters, the Dal Khalsa took the oppurtunity to make the Sikhs realize that in the present Indian political system the elections are not going to resolve their unending problems and that their religion and future would only be secure with the creation of their own independent sovereign self-rule.

To spread the ideology of Sikh Rashtra and imbibe the spirit of freedom in Sikhs, the team of Dal Khalsa men undertook a weeklong statewide journey touching at least eight cities, 25 Tehsils and 40 villages. Message was loud and clear: India is not our country; tricolour is not ours; the parliament doesn’t represent us; we had nothing to do with anthem jan gan man; the present constitution doesn’t fulfill Sikh aspirations.

Therefore, Sikhs need their own independent country, flag, parliament, constitution, currency and all that symbolizes their sovereign rule. To achieve the goal, dialogue and non-violent approach is the need of the hour. We don’t want more bloodshed. Enough has been shed in the past. Both the sides would have to be sensible so that the past horrific happenings should not happen again.