In India illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir, various Sikh bodies including Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar), Sikh Intellectuals Circle, International Sikh Federation, and Sikh Students Federation, observed the 5th of August as black day to condemn the Indian illegal action of repealing the special status of the territory on that day in 2019.
A meeting of senior Sikh leaders was held in Jammu under the chairmanship of S Narinder Singh Khalsa, Chairman of Sikh Intellectuals Circle Jammu and Kashmir and President of IIOJK chapter of Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar). In the meeting, it was unanimously resolved to resist the communal agenda of the present fascist rulers of India to convert the Muslim majority in the occupied territory into a Hindu majority.
Narinder Singh Khalsa while addressing the meeting said at present disputed Kashmir is the most militarized region of the world and after India’s 5th August 2019 illegitimate action, IIOJK has become a hell for innocent civilians who are living under the constant fear of siege, illegal detentions, extra-judicial killings, torture, and rape, etc.
He said that the world’s human rights organizations like Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, and Genocide Watch have raised strong observations about the mistreatment of the Kashmiri civilians. He thanked the people and government of Pakistan for organizing rallies and public debates to denounce the Indian illegal occupation and illegal actions of 5th August 2019 and for expressing solidarity with the oppressed people of IIOJK. We, the Sikh community of J&K, appeal to the international community to take decisive and serious action to stop India from committing crimes against humanity in Kashmir, he said.
Other prominent Sikh leaders present in the meeting included Amanjit Singh Aman, Inderjit Singh, Amarjit Singh, Manjeet Singh, Gurmeet Singh, Ram Singh, Harbhajan Singh, Ranjeet Singh, Rajinder Singh, Mohinder Singh Khalsa, Jaswinder Singh, and Harman Singh.
