Sunday March 22^nd, 2009
To highlight the issue of discrimination, human rights abuses and maltreatment of minorities in India, the delegation of the organization submitted a memo to the UN officials in Geneva.

A meeting of representatives of Panthic bodies led by Dal Khalsa vice-president Manmohan Singh held at one of the Conference hall of the United Nations in Geneva on March 16 brought forth the grim memories of Darbar Sahib attack and the massacre of the Sikhs following the assassination of the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in Nov 1984.

The meeting was organized by Prithpal Singh Khalsa of chairman of Human Rights Wing of Dal Khalsa and was hosted by Dr Charles Graves, Chairman of Interfaith International- an NGO.

Speakers at the conference deliberated over the events during the last 62 years of post-British colonial rule in the subcontinent. The resentment levels could be gauged that most speakers rued the decision of their forefathers who tied their destiny of the Sikhs with India, which miserably failed the community on the social, economic, religious and political fronts. The up coming 25th anniversary of the Darbar Sahib in 1984 was highlighted in speeches along with handouts on the nationwide genocide in November 1984 across India.

A video was played showing how the hand of Hindutva and Hindu Terror is devastating the minorities within India, and how the rise of Hindutva forces is threatening the existence and identity of minorities day by day. BJP candidate from Pilibhit Varun Gandhis rants about ''cutting the hands of those who oppose Hindus'' shows the mindset of these fanatical leaders who are running the so called democracy.

Article 25 of the Indian Constitution was also touched upon in a speech that refuses to give recognition to Sikhs as a separate religion. The UN was told about how the Constitution define the Sikhs as Hindus along with Jains, and how the ruling elite use this to their advantage to tell the international community that Sikhs, already as Hindus have full "freedom" in India.

Speakers were of the view that the Sikhs and other minorities in India do not enjoy the fundamental freedoms and rights. While speaking on the occasion, Pritpal Singh said that whenever the Sikh community sought its rights, it has to face bullets, detentions and hardships. He said that freedom of expression and the right to dissent were always denied and the onus was shifted on to the Sikhs to prove their credentials that they were not “traitors”.

The recent appeal by the Sikh organizations to the UN regarding the use of WMD'S weapons of mass destruction in the Sikh Homeland was also followed up. The UN official was briefed on that the Sikhs face the threat of annihilation in the case of any nuclear war between the two nuclear arch rivals. An appeal was made to the international community on behalf of Sikhs to prevent any war and loss to the Sikh nation as "we are not a party to the current crisis between India and Pakistan".

The delegation sought setting up of international tribunal to investigate the Sikh Genocide committed by the Indian State in June and November respectively was sought. The memo submitted to the UN official and signed by presidents of Dal Khalsa’s UK, Switzerland and German Chapters presented a list of incidents and cases of discrimination, which it held were testimony of hate, discrimination, repression and subjugation perpetuated on the minorities, irrespective of the political party in power.

Rejecting India's claim to a permanent seat on the UN Security Council, the memo states that unless and until India can comply with the UN's own basic human rights requirements and sign NPT, it would be gross mistake and naivety to support any such move.

The delegation urged the international community and the UN to recognize their struggle for self-determination through peaceful and democratic means in accordance with international laws.

Others who were present include Angrez Singh, Gurcharan Singh, Gurdeep Singh Pardesi, Daleep Singh, Jasbir Singh (all from European countries).