Prime Minister’s peace gesture to Pakistan came in for a severe criticism at a convention held at Hariana 12 km from Hoshiarpur to mark the occasion of unfurling of Sikh Flag at Red Fort in 1783 by Baba Baghel Singh, the leader of the then Dal Khalsa.
Commenting on the Prime Minister’s statement that the bus service was a great gift to Sikh community leaders of the Dal Khalsa said although it was a long desire of Sikhs to have free access (“khulle darshan deedare”) to Nankana Sahib yet commencement of bus could not be attributed as a fulfillment of that desire in a true sense. In fact, the desire of Sikh people would only be fulfilled once they are allowed to cross freely without passports and visas. Striking a note of caution, the Dal Khalsa said the newly commenced bus service to Amritsar - Nankana Sahib is set to lose its steam as there was no visa centre set up at Amritsar and Lahore.

Going beyond Indo-Pak relations, Jaspal Singh Dhillon, vice-president of the organization pointed out that citizens of the SAARC nations should be allowed to move freely across borders without any passport or visa restrictions. The founders of the SAARC have envisioned this. The present leadership should endeavor to fulfill the objectives laid out by its founders, said he and added that, “Softening of the borders would go a long way in removing mistrusts and misconceptions in the sub-continent.

Remembering the heroic deeds of Baba Baghel Singh, gathering H S Dhami, former president of the group said Baba Baghel Singh would remain the role model for us for all times to come. There was a need to imbibe the spirit as exemplified by Baba Baghel Singh in our young generation. He said “our organization was determined to attain self-determination for Sikhs and for that matter a strong backing of Sikh Diaspora was required”.

Gurtej Singh, former IAS while addressing the gathering eulogized the historic role played by Baba Baghel Singh in imbibing the revolutionary spirit in the masses. Narrating the history of Sikh warriors of earlier times, he showered praises for the courage and conviction, the leadership of that era displayed. However, he expressed dismay over the dubious role being played by present leadership of the Sikhs.

SGPC member Karnail Singh Panjoli criticized Parkash Singh Badal for betraying the interests of the Sikhs. He held Badal responsible for all ills that had plagued the Sikh polity today. He called upon the masses to get rid of such leaders.

Rajinder Singh of Khalsa Panchayat while expressing similar views said that the glaring example of minorities being discriminated in the country was that whenever Sikhs and Muslims express their desire to attain freedom from the Indian yoke the establishment was always quick to register cases under sedition charges against them. On the other hand, the same establishment has never confronted those Hindu leaders who have been propagating the idea of making India into a Hindu Rashtra.

Bhai Daljit Singh Bittu, president of Shiromani Khalsa Dal justified the struggle Sikhs have been waging to attain sovereign self-rule for Sikhs since late eighties. He said that the Sikhs bore no ill will against any religion or community. He was highly critical of the state and the media for portraying their struggle in the wrong light. He said we were not wary of detentions and false cases and would continue to struggle or the fulfillment of Sikh aspirations. Dr Manjinder Singh, Ranvir Singh, Gurdeep Singh and Dr Sukhpreet Singh Udhoke also spoke.





In a hard hitting resolution the Dal Khalsa convention ridiculed the Prime Minister’s peace gestures towards Pakistan, Bangladesh and other neighbors while forgetting that as many as six states within the periphery of India are declared as “disturbed” areas and have a large chunk of the Indian army deployed against its own citizens. It further states that by making the appropriate political statements the Prime Minister is successfully managing to portray to the world that India is a reasonable, responsible and mature democracy. However, the undeniable truth is that India has become a more repressive and intolerant towards its minorities and citizens.

The Dal Khalsa urged India and Pakistan to allow its citizens to cross the Wagha border even on foot. The resolution further reads, “Without opening of the land route for citizens of both the countries, how could there be a people-to-people contact. Dr Manmohan Singh’s claim in this regard would remain only on paper until the common man is allowed to cross either side on the lines of European Union and Indo-Nepal border. It was ironic that foreigners could use Wagha border to cross over either side on foot but the same was being denied to the passport holders of either side of the border. Cosmetic gesture of allowing goodwill team to visit each other side doesn’t represent the common man but was limited to resourceful and privileged class.