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“Punjab Vidhan Sabha
Should Pass A Resolution Demanding Parliament Of India To Amend Article 25 To
Segregate Sikhism From Hinduism”
OPEN LETTER TO CHIEF
MINISTER OF PUNJAB
PARKASH SINGH BADAL
Under SAD (Badal) Rule, Sikh Turban Is Desecrated; Sikh Identity Is Attacked
AND
Disturbing Pattern of Acts of Violence Against Women
On March 28, 2011 when pharmacists from Punjab exercising
their fundamental right gathered in Mohali for a peaceful sit-in to high light
their demands. Punjab police first cane charged the gathering in which women
were beaten mercilessly. Not satisfied after beating the women, SP Pritam Singh
then ordered SHO Kulbhusan to forcibly remove turban of a Sikh youth Jagjit
Singh. A footage of the incident is available online at
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ONYV8hUKN3Y
Unfortunately, Mohali is not the first incident when Sikh turban was desecrated
and women were beaten during SAD (Badal) rule. In another recent incident, women
demanding jobs were mercilessly beaten by none other than your senior party
leader Sikander Singh Malooka in the presence of SAD (Badal) Member Parliament
Harsimrat Kaur Badal. Desecrating of turban and beating women are severely
abhorred in Sikh religion but unfortunately instead of taking action against MP
Harsimrat Kaur Badal who claims to be champion of women rights, Sikander Singh
Malooka and other SAD workers who took part in beating women, you as SAD head
and chief Minister of Punjab added insult to the injury by defending and
justifying the beating of women.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SLhJqsowKrM
No wonder, Mr. Chief Minister, that today Sikh men and women around the world
are being singled out and subjected to attacks because they are being
disrespected and crushed under the boots by their own leaders and parties in
their homeland Punjab.
While in foreign lands, Sikhs face turban patting in the name of security check
up, however, what happened in the state of Punjab, the homeland of Sikhs and
Sikhism under the rule of SAD (Badal) is actually an attack on Sikh identity and
desecration of Sikh religion. SAD (Badal) has been very vocal in asking Union
Government headed by Congress (I) to take up the issue of turban frisking with
foreign governments. Now that there is irrefutable evidence of consistent acts
of desecrating turbans in Punjab, you as a head of the Punjab Government should
act to restore the sanctity of the articles of Sikh faith.
While the perpetrators of Mohali incident must be arrested and prosecuted, the
root cause of attack on Sikh identity and religion lies in the fact that Sikhism
has been stripped off its separate identity under Article 25 of the Constitution
of India. In your own statement of August 14, 2002 you publically admitted that:
“I burnt copy of Article 25: Badal”
http://www.tribuneindia.com/2002/20020815/punjab1.htm,
however, after reaping the political benefits, you have abandoned the issue of
segregation of Sikhism from Hinduism. Abandoning this central issue by parties
like SAD (Badal) has made Sikh articles of faith an easy target of desecration,
home and abroad.
To maintain honor and dignity of Sikh articles of faith and to
restore respect of women, we demand:
- Punjab Vidhan Sabha should pass a resolution demanding
Parliament of India to amend Article 25 to segregate Sikhism from Hinduism.
- Arrest and prosecute S.P. Pritam Singh and SHO Kulbhushan
for desecrating turban.
- Arrest and prosecute the policemen who cane charged women
in Mohali.
- Pass special legislation from Punjab Vidhan Sabha making
special law “Violence Against Women Act” (WAVA) protecting women.
To act on these demands is well within your powers. As Chief
Minister of State of Punjab you do not need permission or consent from the
Government of India.
Issued By:
Gurpatwant S Pannun, Attorney at Law
Legal Advisor, Sikhs For Justice
T 718-938-7801
E: gurpatwant.pannun@sikhsforjustice.org
| gurpatwant.pannun@gmail.com
Sikhs for Justice, is a U.S. based human rights advocacy group, which is
striving to disseminate information regarding the Genocide of Sikhs in November
1984 and is mobilizing Human Rights Groups and the International Community on a
common platform. Sikhs for Justice is pursuing the legal battle to get the
justice for the victims of the November 1984 Sikh Genocide with the support of
ALL INDIA SIKH STUDENTS FEDERATION, a social political organization headed by
Karnail Singh Peermohammad. |
