Sikh community stage protest outside LPC against Hardeep’s killing

 

The Sikh community staged a protest demonstration outside the Lahore Press Club to register their anger against the murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, one of their leaders in Canada, reported the 24NewsHD TV channel.

They accused the Indian government of being responsible for the gunning down of Nijjar, president of a Sikh temple and campaigner for the creation of an independent Sikh state that supporters hoped to call Khalistan.

Holding placards and banners inscribed with their demands, the members of the Sikh community were chanting anti-Indian slogans. The protesters condemned the killing of pro-Khalistan state leader Hardeep Singh. They held that they were demonstrating to condemn the Indian aggressive policy against minorities and her violation of minority rights.

 Nijjar, whom India had declared a wanted terrorist, was gunned down on June 18 in Surrey, a suburb of Vancouver, British Columbia that is home to one of the largest Sikh populations in Canada.

Former Parliamentary Secretary for Human Rights Mahendra Pal Singh, former MPA Sardar Ramesh Singh Arora, President of Azam Cloth Market Association Malik Zaman Naseeb were present in the protest. A good number of Sikh community members and people from all walks of life attended the demonstration.

Talking to gathering, Former Parliamentary Secretary for Human Rights, Mahendra Pal Singh said that the purpose of the protest is to demand action against India’s terrorism.

He recalled that Hardeep Singh used to talk about human rights first.

He said that atrocities against Sikhs and other religious minorities were increasing day by day in India. He asked the international community to take notice of cruelties against Sikhs, their extra-constitutional killings, and forced disappearances in India. “We will continue our struggle till the establishment of Khalistan,” he added.

He also appealed to world leaders to take notice of Hardeep’s murder as it is highlighted by Canadian President Justin Trudeau.

“India has always been behind the targeted killing of Sikhs,” he added.

Mahendra Pal Singh also asked the Pakistani government that their voice should be raised in the world.

Former MPA Sardar Ramesh Singh Arora, a prominent Sikh community leader also issued a stern warning, alleging the massacre of Sikh community members and vowing to seek justice through international courts.

 Arora strongly condemned the killing of Hardeep Singh, highlighting the tragic loss faced by the Sikh community. He revealed that Justin Trudeau had raised the issue in Parliament, shedding light on the circumstances surrounding the incident.

He also expressed grave concerns about cross-border infiltrations from India, pointing out that sometimes India's activities spill over into Pakistan through Afghanistan, and at other times, they are linked to Balochistan.

Furthermore, he accused India of employing influential think tanks to diplomatically isolate Pakistan on the global stage, adding that the Sikh community has faced oppression in India for an extended period.

Reports of atrocities, including the martyrdom of young men and rape of women, have led many Sikhs to flee India and seek refuge in other countries, he hinted.

 Arora emphasized that India is increasingly being viewed as an example of terrorism in the world, with minorities feeling unsafe. He called upon the Human Rights Commission to intervene and address the plight of Sikhs.

Arora urged the Canadian government to take legal action against those responsible for crimes and expressed concerns about India's influence and its facilitators worldwide, leaving the Sikh community feeling insecure and vulnerable.