Taking a radical step 25 years ago, S Gajinder Singh and his team resorted to a peaceful hijacking act, to register their protest against the arrest of Sikh nationalist leader Sant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale and killings of 19 innocent Sikhs by the police at Chowk Mehta on September 20, 1981. The act of hijacking was also aimed to draw the world's attention towards the Sikh struggle meant to establish sovereign Sikh state.

The representative gathering of Sikh organizations, assembled at Chandigarh on the 25th anniversary of the event, appreciated the efforts, contribution and service of Gajinder Singh, who is still in exile, for the sake of the Sikh cause.  Capitalizing on the memories of the event, one of the main resolutions of the meeting was in the form of an appeal to the United Nations to restore the civil rights of Gajinder Singh, who had undergone life imprisonment for 14 long years in Pakistan.  It was decided to write to the Secretary General of the United Nations in this regard seeking the granting of civil rights to Gajinder Singh and full liberty to pursue his personal and political life, without fear and intervention of any kind. 

In the same breath, the personal and political affiliates of Gajinder Singh, chided the government of India for its negative and illegal approach and attitude while dealing with the case of Gajinder Singh.  The Sikh leadership demanded that the government of India should stop name-calling the Sikhs in international forums. 

Replying to the questions of the media persons, the leaders assembled at the Monarch Hotel, Chandigarh, said that the fundamental rights of Gajinder Singh should be restored. He should have liberty to decide his fate.

Blaming the Indian government for tarnishing the image of Gajinder Singh by placing his name in the list of 20 most wanted persons, they asked the Union government to correct its error and delete his name from this so-called list. They stressed that he should have the freedom to choose his resident status.

When reporters asked whether Gajinder wants to return back, they replied, "Let Gajinder Singh to decide whether he wants to return, remain there where he is presently staying or to move to some other country".  The leaders were of the opinion that Indian government should stop branding him as a terrorist.
 
As the government of India has downgraded the legal provision of "double jeopardy", the Dal Khalsa has decided to take up the case of Gajinder Singh and other hijackers to the UN Sub Commission of Human Rights, posing them the fundamental question -"What are the international rights of a hijacker who has undergone imprisonment terms and why should governments continue to hound such a person?"

A former IAS also spoke at length sharing his deep association with Gajinder Singh. He reminded the audience that likes of Gajinder Singh were product of times in which every attempt at betterment of the Sikhs had come to nought. He said Gajinder Singh was concerned about the destiny of the Sikhs. He stood for the glory of the Panth and defied the so-called mainstream Akalis. 

He further said that Dal Khalsa was born to confront and curtail the anti-Sikh policies of the Indian state. The nomenclature 'Dal Khalsa' was provided by Sirdar Kapur Singh. He condemns the repeated attempts made by vested interests to paint the Dal Khalsa with a 'Congress' brush.  Acknowledging the 'historic role' played by Gajinder Singh the leaders argued that while India has declared its war on terror, the Sikh organizations were fighting a war on errors.