Sikh bodies to hold protest against UAPA on August 15

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, August 2

Activists of Sikh bodies on Sunday announced that on August 15 they would protest across the state against the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) 1967.

The decision to this effect was taken at a meeting of senior representatives of three Sikh bodies—Dal Khalsa, Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) and United Akali Dal. They were of the opinion that to cage the dissent and trampled the rights of dissenting people, the Union and state governments were misusing draconian laws across the board, from Kashmir to Punjab and Delhi to central India.

Members of the three Sikh bodies will be carrying black flags and placards while holding demonstrations at all district headquarters on the day when India will celebrate its Independence Day, said Dal Khalsa spokesman Kanwar Pal Singh and Prof Mohinder Pal Singh of SAD (A).

They listed the issues of their protest that include the indiscriminate use of bullying laws including the UAPA and sedition, labelling of nine Khalistani Sikhs as “terrorists”, and Centre’s anti-farmer ordinances and its refusal to release political prisoners, who have completed their jail term. Moreover, our protest is in continuation of our resolve to fight against injustices and enslavement.

They, however, clarified that due to pandemic outbreak, the number of demonstrators would be limited at all districts and physical distancing will be maintained.

Taking Capt Amarinder Singh to task for defending the police highhandedness against Sikh youth under the pretext of combating the 2020 referendum campaign, he said, “Contrary to Punjab CM’s hue and cry, there’s no threat to peace, brotherhood and harmony in Punjab”.

On Sukhbir Badal’s tirade against misuse of UAPA, prof Mohinder Pal asked him to first explain his own dubious track record of misusing these fascists’ laws and rewarding police officers, who were infamous for their brutalities against the Sikh youth.

The leaders accompanied by SYP head Paramjit Singh Mand and Dal Khalsa general secretary Paramjit Singh Tanda said around 47 cases under UAPA against youth were registered during Sukhbir’s 10-year regime and equal number of cases have been registered so far in Amarinder’s three-year rule.