Sri Amrtisar Sahib - In an apparently popular move, Dal Khalsa undertook 2 day Punjab Jagao March from Amritsar to Hoshiarpur via Nawanshahr to highlight issues concerning lives of Punjabis including female fotecide, drug abuse and influx of migrants after performing Ardas at Akal Takht in memory of Shaheed Beant Singh, who assassinated late PM Indira Gandhi 23 years ago.
The jatha of 500 strong activists of the radical group carrying saffron flags and placards chanted slogans Punjab for Punjabis.
The organizers while speaking outside Information office of the SGPC paid tributes to Beant Singh for avenging the destruction of darbar Sahib in June 84. Coinciding with Punjab Day which falls today, Dal Khasla president Satnam Singh Paonta Sahib said that the people of Punjab have forgotten the reasons for formation of Punjabi Suba. Dal Khalsa has taken on itself the duty to remind the people of Punjab the real rationale of Punjabi Suba. To rekindle the true spirit of joi de vivre of the people of Panjab, Dal Khalsa celebrates the 41st Punjab Day by traversing through Punjab and focussing on the forgotten issues, says the written statement issued by the leaders of the party.
The four-page political document circulated during the March calls upon the people of Punjab to uphold the relevance of mother-tongue Punjabi, to protect and preserve Sikh culture, to search for a practical solution to the problem of demography change and to strengthen the people's resolve to fight for economic and political rights.
Passing through village Pheruman, the ancestral village of Darshan Singh Pheruman who died for upholding the cause of Panjabis, leaders and workers of Dal Khalsa exhorted the people to accomplish the unfinished task for which Darshan Singh laid down his life. H S Dhami former head of the Dal Khalsa eulogised his role and contribution for Punjab and Panth. The organizers honoured the family members of the Darshan Singh Pheruman on the ocassion.
Upping the ante on the issue of proliferation of Hindi newspapers in Punjab, senior leaders of Dal Khalsa, Harcharnjit Singh Dhami called upon the people to give preference to Punjabi newspapers.
Dal Khalsa spokesperson Kanwarpal Singh said that suffering ignominy at losing its national status in 1879, the Sikh nation was cocooned within the geographical boundaries of the state of Indian Punjab in 1947, losing a large portion of its territory. Around two decades later, in 1966, this truncated state was further reduced in size and stature in the name of demarcating it on linguistic lines.
He said we believe that since then Indian is governing Punjab as its colony. Dal Khalsa is conscious of its honour and therefore cannot forego the pride and privilege of Sikhs and Punjabis. We have no doubt that many other nationalities in the sub-continent are also proud of their heritage and glory. The message of Dal Khalsa during the course of its Punjab Jagao March to the people of Punjab is loud and clear: Punjab is for Punjabis under no circumstances will we tolerate second class status. Neo-colonialism of India will be fought at all fronts and we are determined to regain our lost glory and prestige. We have no choice but to protect our progeny, preserve our heritage and culture and press for our rightful economic and political demands.
The March was also attended by leaders of the Khalsa Action Committee and the Sikh Students Federation (Bhindranwale) which included Daljit Singh, Bhai Mohkam Singh and SGPC Member Karnail Singh Panjoli.
