The chopping of hair of a teenaged Sikh boy in Jaipur has shown that the
mindset while “attacking” the Sikhs is still the same as it was during Delhi
genocide of the Sikhs in Nov 1984. The Dal Khalsa and Shiromani Akali Dal (A)
denounce the inability of the Rajasthan government in arresting the culprits
and also rebuke the Akali Dal and SGPC leadership for extracting mere
promises from the Rajasthan CM, which are still to be translated into action.
Ironically, Captain Amarinder Singh, the chief minister of Punjab, has
totally lost control over his police force. His continued absence from Punjab
and investing of full authority in the state police hierarchy is responsible
for the barbaric role of its officers, who are hell bent on perpetuating
their Danda Raj, unmindful of who the protestors are.
What happened in Jalandhar yesterday is a stark reminder that Punjab is still
a police state. The conduct of Jalandhar cops is akin to rubbing salts on the
wounds of the community. Captain Amrinder Singh, who holds the portfolio of
home affairs also, looks helpless in front of the brutality of the police.
In the last eight weeks, it is the 27th incident of police brutality. Beating
up of teachers, unemployed youth, nurses, truck operators, farmers, citizens
protesting against no supply of electricity and water, protestors against the
forcible occupation of land for Reliance near Mohali, Varinder Agro near
Barnala speaks volumes about the deteriorating human rights situation in the
state. The saddest part is that in the last eight weeks, there has not been a
single condemnation by the Chief Minister of the inhuman role of its police
forces.
The parties have demanded that the false and concocted cases of attempt to
murder foisted on the protesting Sikh youth in Jalandhar should be withdrawn
forthwith and the guilty police official, Satinder Singh SP should be
dismissed.
Leaders of both SAD (Amritsar) and the Dal Khalsa said that the Panthic Front
of various groups will declare the next course of action against the
brutality of the Jalandhar cops after the protest rally at the district
courts in Jalandhar tomorrow.
The statement is issued to the press by Satnam Singh Paonta Sahib (president,
Dal Khalsa) and Prof Jagmohan Singh general secretary, SAD (A)).