Punjab Rights Forum
Encyclopedia
The Punjab Rights Forum came into existence on June 28, 2005 at a convention held in Ludhiana, Punjab, India
, that had been organized by D. S. Gill, Chair of the International Human Rights Organisation (IHRO).
The floating of the Punjab Rights Forum was largely in response to the arrests of dozens of Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) terrorists and BKI sympathizers in Punjab and New Delhi
after the apprehension of Jagtar Singh Hawara, the main accused in the bombings of two cinema halls in New Delhi during May 2005. Another cause for the formation of the Punjab Rights Forum was in response to the crackdown on members of the Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar)
, including the party's president, Simranjit Singh Mann
and activists of the Dal Khalsa
following a "Genocide Remembrance Parade" that had been carried out through the streets of Amritsar
on June 5 in remembrance of those Sikh civilians and terrorists that had been slain by the Indian army during Operation Bluestar. The rally on June 5, which had drawn an enormous crowd and received widespread media attention across India, culminated at the Akal Takht
, where members of the Dal Khalsa and Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) delivered "inflammatory speeches" calling for an independent Sikh
state of Khalistan
. Two days after the rally members of the Dal Khalsa and Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) began courting arrest on charges of sedition
.
The formation of the Punjab Rights Forum brought together a number of Punjab-based pro-Khalistan political parties and organizations who were joined by a dozen odd human rights, religious and Kisan (farmers) groups in order to form a loose coalition to campaign on issues of human rights in the state.
ideologues.
, President of the Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) and activists of the Dal Khalsa
who had all been placed behind bars on charges of sedition following a pro-Khalistan rally that had been carried out through the streets of Amritsar
on June 5, 2005 marking the 21st anniversary of Operation Bluestar.
The second major activity of the Punjab Rights Forum carried out soon after its creation was the organizing of a Human Rights convention in Jammu
on July 30, 2005 where members of the PRF had called for and given support to the Kashmiri people
s' right to self-determination
.
The PRF constituent members which had taken part in this convention included the:
, Shiromani Akali Dal (Longowal)
, Shiromani Akali Dal (1923), Dal Khalsa
, Shiromani Khalsa Dal, Sikh Students Federation, Sikh Nari Manch, Shiromani Khalsa Panchayat, International Human Rights Organisation and the Damdami Taksal
.
The rallies were held in co-ordination with candlelit vigils which had taken place on the same day across cities throughout Europe
and North America
that had been organized largely by the Sikh Federation (UK) in addition to the Canadian Organization of Sikh Students, Khalsa Human Rights, World Sikh Organisation and International Sikh Youth Federation.
The purpose of the candlelit vigils was to demonstrate against the use of the death penalty in India and call for the release of Prof. Davinderpal Singh Bhullar and all other Sikh political activists currently detained there.
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, that had been organized by D. S. Gill, Chair of the International Human Rights Organisation (IHRO).
The floating of the Punjab Rights Forum was largely in response to the arrests of dozens of Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) terrorists and BKI sympathizers in Punjab and New Delhi
New Delhi
New Delhi is the capital city of India. It serves as the centre of the Government of India and the Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi. New Delhi is situated within the metropolis of Delhi. It is one of the nine districts of Delhi Union Territory. The total area of the city is...
after the apprehension of Jagtar Singh Hawara, the main accused in the bombings of two cinema halls in New Delhi during May 2005. Another cause for the formation of the Punjab Rights Forum was in response to the crackdown on members of the Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar)
Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar)
Shiromani Akali Dal , registered with the Election Commission of India as Shiromani Akali Dal , is a splinter group, led by Simranjit Singh Mann, of the Shiromani Akali Dal....
, including the party's president, Simranjit Singh Mann
Simranjit Singh Mann
Simranjit Singh Mann is a politician from Punjab. He is president of a Sikh political party, Shiromani Akali Dal , that used to advocate Sikhs sedition from India and form a separate sikh nation, Khalistan...
and activists of the Dal Khalsa
Dal Khalsa
Dal Khalsa is a socio-religio-political organization of the Sikh nation, based in the city of Amritsar . The primary aim of Dal Khalsa is to achieve the independence of the Punjabi-speaking Sikh majority region of North West India through peaceful and democratic means in order to establish a...
following a "Genocide Remembrance Parade" that had been carried out through the streets of Amritsar
Amritsar
Amritsar is a city in the northern part of India and is the administrative headquarters of Amritsar district in the state of Punjab, India. The 2001 Indian census reported the population of the city to be over 1,500,000, with that of the entire district numbering 3,695,077...
on June 5 in remembrance of those Sikh civilians and terrorists that had been slain by the Indian army during Operation Bluestar. The rally on June 5, which had drawn an enormous crowd and received widespread media attention across India, culminated at the Akal Takht
Akal Takht
The Akal Takht of the Timeless One or Seat of God. It is one of the five seats of temporal authority of the Sikhs equivalent to any parliament of world sovereign country. Akal means The Timeless One - another term for God. Takht means 'seat' or 'throne' in Persian...
, where members of the Dal Khalsa and Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) delivered "inflammatory speeches" calling for an independent Sikh
Sikh
A Sikh is a follower of Sikhism. It primarily originated in the 15th century in the Punjab region of South Asia. The term "Sikh" has its origin in Sanskrit term शिष्य , meaning "disciple, student" or शिक्ष , meaning "instruction"...
state of Khalistan
Khalistan
Khalistan refers to a global political secessionist movement to create a separate Sikh state, called Khālistān , carved out of parts mostly consisting of the Punjab region of India, depending on definition....
. Two days after the rally members of the Dal Khalsa and Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) began courting arrest on charges of sedition
Sedition
In law, sedition is overt conduct, such as speech and organization, that is deemed by the legal authority to tend toward insurrection against the established order. Sedition often includes subversion of a constitution and incitement of discontent to lawful authority. Sedition may include any...
.
The formation of the Punjab Rights Forum brought together a number of Punjab-based pro-Khalistan political parties and organizations who were joined by a dozen odd human rights, religious and Kisan (farmers) groups in order to form a loose coalition to campaign on issues of human rights in the state.
Objectives
The Punjab Rights Forum (PRF), floated by D. S. Gill, Chair of the Ludhiana based International Human Rights Organisation has projected itself as a "third front" to the political dominance of the Congress Party and Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal) in the Punjab state. The PRF has also championed itself as a defender of the interests and affairs of the Sikh and Punjabi people against the onslaught of the Indian state, Punjab police and HindutvaHindutva
Hindutva is the term used to describe movements advocating Hindu nationalism. Members of the movement are called Hindutvavādis.In India, an umbrella organization called the Sangh Parivar champions the concept of Hindutva...
ideologues.
Organizational structure
In order to further the agenda of the Punjab Rights Forum, a seven-member coordinator committee was set up comprising members from some of its constituent members, namely D S Gill, Jagmohan Singh, Karnail Singh Panjoli, Surinderpal Singh, Gurdip Singh Bathinda, Rajinder Singh and Dr. Manjinder Singh Jandi Dal Khalsa. D.S. Gill was selected as the chief coordinator while Justice Ajit Singh Bains was chosen as the convenor of the Punjab Rights Forum.Activities of the Punjab Rights Forum
Two major activities of the Punjab Rights Forum upon its inception were to hold a number of seminars across Punjab regarding the detention of over thirty Babbar Khalsa International terrorists and their supporters and for seeking the immediate release of Simranjit Singh MannSimranjit Singh Mann
Simranjit Singh Mann is a politician from Punjab. He is president of a Sikh political party, Shiromani Akali Dal , that used to advocate Sikhs sedition from India and form a separate sikh nation, Khalistan...
, President of the Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) and activists of the Dal Khalsa
Dal Khalsa
Dal Khalsa is a socio-religio-political organization of the Sikh nation, based in the city of Amritsar . The primary aim of Dal Khalsa is to achieve the independence of the Punjabi-speaking Sikh majority region of North West India through peaceful and democratic means in order to establish a...
who had all been placed behind bars on charges of sedition following a pro-Khalistan rally that had been carried out through the streets of Amritsar
Amritsar
Amritsar is a city in the northern part of India and is the administrative headquarters of Amritsar district in the state of Punjab, India. The 2001 Indian census reported the population of the city to be over 1,500,000, with that of the entire district numbering 3,695,077...
on June 5, 2005 marking the 21st anniversary of Operation Bluestar.
The second major activity of the Punjab Rights Forum carried out soon after its creation was the organizing of a Human Rights convention in Jammu
Jammu
Jammu , also known as Duggar, is one of the three administrative divisions within Jammu and Kashmir, the northernmost state in India.Jammu city is the largest city in Jammu and the winter capital of Jammu and Kashmir...
on July 30, 2005 where members of the PRF had called for and given support to the Kashmiri people
Kashmiri people
The Kashmiri people are a Dardic linguistic group living in Kashmir Valley in Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir and parts of the Pakistani territory of Azad Kashmir who speak the Kashmiri language...
s' right to self-determination
Self-determination
Self-determination is the principle in international law that nations have the right to freely choose their sovereignty and international political status with no external compulsion or external interference...
.
The PRF constituent members which had taken part in this convention included the:
- Punjab Human Rights Organisation
- International Human Rights Organisation
- Movement Against State Repression
- Lawyers for Human Rights International
- Khalra Mission Committee - for gaining justice for the murder of human rights activist Jaswant Singh KhalraJaswant Singh Khalra- Family :Jaswant Singh Khalra's grandfather Harnam Singh was an activist in the Ghadar movement for the independence of India.- Activism :Jaswant Singh Khalra was a bank director in the city of Amritsar in Punjab during the militancy...
- Human Rights and Democracy Forum
- Lok Raj Sangathana (New Delhi)
- Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar)Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar)Shiromani Akali Dal , registered with the Election Commission of India as Shiromani Akali Dal , is a splinter group, led by Simranjit Singh Mann, of the Shiromani Akali Dal....
- Shiromani Akali Dal (Longowal)Shiromani Akali Dal (Longowal)Shiromani Akali Dal is a splinter group of the Badal-led Shiromani Akali Dal. The party was launched on June 7, 2004. Its president is Surjit Kaur Barnala .Prem Singh Chandumajra joined it after being denied a ticked by Shiromani Akali Dal...
- Sikh Students Federation
- Dal KhalsaDal KhalsaDal Khalsa is a socio-religio-political organization of the Sikh nation, based in the city of Amritsar . The primary aim of Dal Khalsa is to achieve the independence of the Punjabi-speaking Sikh majority region of North West India through peaceful and democratic means in order to establish a...
- SGPC Member- Karnail Singh Panjoli
- Bharti Kisan Union (Rajewal)
- Bharti Kisan Union (Ekta)
- Sikh Nari Manch
- Indian Ex-services League (Panjab and Chandigarh)
- Damdami TaksalDamdami TaksalThe Damdami Taksal is a 300 years old educational organization said to have been founded by the tenth Sikh Master, Guru Gobind Singh. According to the Damdami Taksal, it was entrusted with the responsibility of teaching the reading , analysis and recitation of the Sikh scriptures by Guru Gobind...
- Shriomani Khalsa Panchayat
- Sikh Human Rights Group (South Asia)
Worldwide Day of Protest - January 17, 2006
On January 17, 2006 constituent members of the Punjab Rights Forum held protest rallies throughout various district headquarters in Punjab demanding the abolition of death penalty and release of Prof Davinderpal Singh Bhullar and all other Sikh political activists. Prominent among the various organizations which took part in these rallies under the Punjab Rights Forum were the Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar)Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar)
Shiromani Akali Dal , registered with the Election Commission of India as Shiromani Akali Dal , is a splinter group, led by Simranjit Singh Mann, of the Shiromani Akali Dal....
, Shiromani Akali Dal (Longowal)
Shiromani Akali Dal (Longowal)
Shiromani Akali Dal is a splinter group of the Badal-led Shiromani Akali Dal. The party was launched on June 7, 2004. Its president is Surjit Kaur Barnala .Prem Singh Chandumajra joined it after being denied a ticked by Shiromani Akali Dal...
, Shiromani Akali Dal (1923), Dal Khalsa
Dal Khalsa
Dal Khalsa is a socio-religio-political organization of the Sikh nation, based in the city of Amritsar . The primary aim of Dal Khalsa is to achieve the independence of the Punjabi-speaking Sikh majority region of North West India through peaceful and democratic means in order to establish a...
, Shiromani Khalsa Dal, Sikh Students Federation, Sikh Nari Manch, Shiromani Khalsa Panchayat, International Human Rights Organisation and the Damdami Taksal
Damdami Taksal
The Damdami Taksal is a 300 years old educational organization said to have been founded by the tenth Sikh Master, Guru Gobind Singh. According to the Damdami Taksal, it was entrusted with the responsibility of teaching the reading , analysis and recitation of the Sikh scriptures by Guru Gobind...
.
The rallies were held in co-ordination with candlelit vigils which had taken place on the same day across cities throughout Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
and North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
that had been organized largely by the Sikh Federation (UK) in addition to the Canadian Organization of Sikh Students, Khalsa Human Rights, World Sikh Organisation and International Sikh Youth Federation.
The purpose of the candlelit vigils was to demonstrate against the use of the death penalty in India and call for the release of Prof. Davinderpal Singh Bhullar and all other Sikh political activists currently detained there.