[Reader-list] Dal Khalsa joins protest at Jantar Mantar in Delhi to highlight plight of Kashmiri people

[Aditya Raj Baul]

Dal Khalsa joins protest at Jantar Mantar in Delhi to highlight plight
of Kashmiri people


Punjab Newsline Network
Sunday, 08 August 2010
http://www.punjabnewsline.com/content/dal-khalsa-joins-protest-jantar-mantar-delhi-highlight-plight-kashmiri-people/22618

CHANDIGARH: To highlight the dismal plight of Kashmiris and protest
against the unabated killings across the valley since June 11, the Dal
Khalsa participated in a sit-in organized by Kashmiris of Delhi at
Jantar Mantar this evening.


Informing the media persons on phone, Dal Khalsa leader Kanwar Pal
Singh said it’s the spirited protest in which hundreds of Kashmiris
including students, professionals and businessmen assembled at Jantar
Mantar carrying placards reading “stop crimes against humanity and UN
to break its stoic silence on Kashmir”. Photographs of human rights
violations were put on display in large numbers. They also kept blood
drenched school bags to make the denizens of Delhi aware about the
school children being killed by trigger happy policemen and troopers.

Hailing the spirit and steadfastness of Kashmiri youth who were
sacrificing their lives while facing the state repression in the
valley since last 2 months, the Dal Khalsa spokesperson Kanwarpal
Singh they were moved by the sufferings of the Kashmiri people that
were striving for their rights and freedom. “By facing the bullets and
batons of security forces with brave hearts, the Kashmiris have shown
to the world that they prefer death to slavery".

Angry young Kashmiri protesters mostly studying in various educational
institutions raised the most popular slogan in the Valley “Hum Kya
Chathe Azadi (We want freedom),” in the heart of New Delhi. They sang
songs and poems to pay respect to those who have been killed. Both
boys and girls in an emotive chord lambasted the Indian civil society
for keeping “mum” on the killings of Kashmiris.

A girl speaker castigated the advice of Home Minister to Kashmiri
parents for keeping their wards inside the houses. She reminded P
Chidambaram that security forces in the valley had picked up large
number of youth from their houses in the past and killed them in
fake-encounters.



Accusing the Indian government for using excessive force in Kashmir,
the organizer of the event Prof S A R Geelani said security forces
were firing indiscriminately on Kashmiri protestors and beating them
to silence their voices.

Satnam Singh another Dal Khalsa leader was more vocal. While
addressing the gathering he praised the leadership of Hurriyat chief
Syed Ali Shah Geelani and echoed his call to keep the on-going
protests peaceful and non-violent. Dr Manjinder Singh expressed
solidarity with the people of Kashmir and with the families of victims
of state repression.

Members of Democratic Students Union, All India students Association,
Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist), Peoples Union for Civil
Liberties, Peoples Union For Democratic Rights, Naga Peoples Movement
for Human Rights and Resistance Media also participated in the sit-in.

The tempers ran high when a handful of Kashmiri Pandits arrived at
venue and started condemning the pro-freedom leaders. Although police
force present there in large numbers prevented them in coming close to
the venue, the organizers requested them to join the sit-in to protest
the innocent killings. Prof Geelani said “you are also our brothers,
come on the stage and not fall in the trap of agencies who intend to
divide us”.