AMRITSAR SAHIB, Punjab—Petition launched by US based Sikh for Justice just one month ago on July 10, 2016, has received close to 80,000 signatures so far. In the petition, the US based Sikh advocacy group has appealed to President Barrack Obama to honour the right of Sikhs for self-determination. The petition states, “1947 did not bring independence for Sikhs in India where followers of Sikhism, the world’s 5th largest religion are labeled as Hindus; Sikh Golden Temple was destroyed by Indian Army; Sikhs were subjected to genocide in Nov 84 and thousands were extra-judicially killed by security forces for demanding right to self determination.”
Efforts are underway to achieve 100,000 signatures before the US White House will officially have to respond to the petition. In the United States, Sikhs for Justice volunteers have led signature drives to gather signatures at various Gurdwaras. Similar efforts have also been seen in India, Pakistan and parts of Europe.
In India, along with Bibi Jagdish Kaur, a 1984 genocide survivor, and Karnail Singh Peer Mohammad (PM) from Sikhs for Justice jointly appealed the Sikh masses to boycott Independence Day celebrations as they appealed everyone to sign the petition. PM announced to protest against the Indian atrocities on Independence Day in protest of Sikh genocide of 1984. He said that the Sikh identity has been merged within Hindu fold in the section 25-B of Indian constitution.
“We hope to receive 100,000 signatures by August 5 on the petition moved by SFJ. After this, the US White House will have to give an official reply,” he said.
Bibi Jagdish Kaur (an eyewitness in 1984 Sikh genocide) also appealed the whole Sikh community to sign the petition filed before White House as she shared her own story from 1984 massacres where her family members were killed.
On November 11, 2015, Sikhs for Justice legal advisor had asked the US White House to intervene and seek the release of Jathedar Bhai Jagtar Singh Hawara who was nominated as the Jathedar of the Khalsa Panth by Sarbat Khalsa. In response to the petition which was signed by 100,000 Sikhs, President Barrack Obama refused to intervene in foreign criminal justice system. In its statement, the White House said –
The President has made clear that our nation’s deep respect for religious liberty and pluralism must not stop at our shores. In an address to the people of India last year, the President stressed the importance of these fundamental principles to both our democracies:
“In both our countries, in India and in America, our diversity is our strength. And we have to guard against any efforts to divide ourselves along sectarian lines or any other lines. And if we do that well, if America shows itself as an example of its diversity and yet the capacity to live together and work together in common effort, in common purpose; if India, as massive as it is, with so much diversity, so many differences is able to continually affirm its democracy, that is an example for every other country on Earth.”
The United States remains committed to coordinating with governments around the world to promote religious freedom for all citizens. We encourage you to continue to use the We the People platform to petition the Administration to take action on the policy issues you care about, but we cannot comment here on the specific foreign criminal justice matter raised in your petition.
You can read the full Terms of Participation to get a better sense of why We the People is designed the way it is, and to learn more about its guidelines for use.
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Jagdeesh Singh, you are simply delusional to even think that all communities in Punjab can collectively set up a State. Hindus already have their own government which they will not oppose and Muslims have no interest beyond separate Kashmir in India. Other communities in Punjab are insignificant. The only time Punjab saw peace and all communities co-existed peacefully was during the Sikh rule. And when wars broke out against the British, Muslims and Hindus stood against the Sikhs. History of past centuries bears testimony to the fact that only Sikhs stood for Punjab’s protection and prosperity and you are a fool to even believe that the tide can be reversed by convincing all communities to stand for a united Punjab.
Different scholars define “nation” differently and only in the last century, it came to be used for a piece of land which is not supported by the Sikh beliefs. Sikhs are a nation but Punjab is not a nation. There is nothing wrong in self-determination based on religious lines. You think RSS and ISIS are bad but what makes you think secular system is any better for Sikhs? Voting system, quantity over quality, majority rule etc. have hurt the Sikh interests in this system so take your garbage proposals elsewhere where idiots like Gurnam Singh can blindly follow you and let Sikhs follow their religious principles to establish Khalsa Raj.
Gurnam Singh, slogan Raj Karega Khalsa does not advocate a State set up on modern day lines. Your utter ignorance on ideological differences between Sikhs, Muslims and Hindus clearly shows your mental bankruptcy and how low you can stoop to compare Sikhs with ISIS and RSS which shows your intolerance towards your own Sikh brethren for having a different viewpoint.
Sikhs do not have a priest class. Gadar party was inspired by the Sikh teachings and drew its inspiration from Sikhi. Until you can convince Punjabi Hindus to secede from the rest of India to establish a united Punjab, you are living in a dream world. Sikhs support Khalsa Raj where Khalsa will rule according to Sikh principles which are egalitarian. It has existed in the past and will exist in future. People like you can cry all you want and for people like you we recite “Aki Rahe Na Koe” and Khwaar Hoe Sab Milenge”.
Excellent response by Jagdeesh Singh which captures the utter confusion amongst pro Khalistani religious nationalists. Nobody in the world other than RSS Hindutva and ISIS support the idea of a theocratic religious state. What we need to do is build a secular Panjaab Nationalise movement along the lines of the Gaddar Lehar and the ideology they were espousing. Ultimately this will draw heavily on Silh teachings and history but most critically it will avoid simply handing power to a corrupt priest class which is seeking to assert its power and influence by playing on people’s religious sentiments and insecurities.
Unfortunately, the language of this petition, whilst very well intended – is grossly improper and does an injustcie to the Sikh people and nation. The continued reference to Sikhs as a ‘religion’, limits and diminish and deviates from Sikh nationhood. Persons like Karnail Singh Peer Mohammed and Sikhs for Justice – which are excellent and robust voices for the Sikh cause, are respectfully invited to review and reconsider this continuous error of ‘religion’ labelling on Sikhs. This is an imperialistic label started by the British Raj, and which most stupidly and gruesomely the Sikhs have internalised in there crass stupidity. BEING A RELIGION does not give you a basis for SELF-DETERMINATION, much less STATEHOOD. The only concept of statehood in the world, is the one being propagated by Islamic supremists and Hindu supremists. Are you Sikh leaders therefore following that model?!!! The well-grounded and well-formed case of Sikh-Panjaabi nationhood, based on collective community, collective life, collective history, bonded together into a cohesive whole over centuries and by the defining and substantive role of the Ten Gurus, needs to be presented as a national case, not distorted as a ‘religion’ case. The poision of ‘religion’ and ‘religion’ divide, has brought continuous damage and diminishment to the Panjaab and Sikhs. One is left in amazement by the continuing crass stupidity, by persons we look to as a our national voices. Waheguru!!! As the Mandla v Dowell Lee, House of Lords, 1983, UK landmark judgment firmly states: “Sikhs are more than just a religion.” The whole imprisonment of Sikhs to a diminished and regulated position of a ‘religion’, is a grave injustice to our historic formation, our history, our civilisation and, above all, a devious and destructive way of diverting away from our nationhood and national aspirations and national rights. Please get rid of this grosteque mislabelling!!! PANJAAB IS A NATION!
Jagdeesh Singh, sir, excellent comment. I knew there was something about the way the petition was written that made it seem not quite right. You have encapsulated it perfectly.
I will still sign it though!!