On behalf of the Sikh Nation, we wish you all, Guru Fateh, Sat Siri Akal, Namaste and Salaam!

Last three centuries are witness to the glorious struggle of the Sikhs against foreign invaders, including the British. Sikhs have made great sacrifices (80%) to bring this land to the present political status from the black ages of tyranny and oppression. Even after 1947, when Indira Gandhi clamped emergency and crushed the democratic rights of people, the Sikhs led the struggle against this authoritarianism too.

The Sikhs have always been the first to endeavor for the protection of dignity, culture and rights of the people, irrespective of their caste, creed, sex or political views, and challenged any form of tyranny or oppression in this subcontinent.

Today, we want to share with you the pain and agony inflicted upon Sikhs by the successive governments since 1947 so that you may know and realize how Sikhs, who always pray for the welfare of all (Sarbat da Bhala), were rundown, subjecting them to repression, injustice and humiliation.  This trend is unabated even now.

We the Sikhs had to struggle even for trivial matters while the others got all with a song in this land of India. What we got in turn were jails, torture, extra-judicial killings in thousands, loss of property, army attack on Darbar Sahib, and demolition of Akal Takht. And in November 1984, thousands of Sikhs were massacred in Delhi and elsewhere in our own land, just to avenge for the action of the few. Alas, justice is still a far cry.  There is no justice for the minorities and the poor in this land.

The words of the great poet Milton have historical truth that when you delay justice, you deny it.  And that is why we are here presenting Sikh case in people's court.

The injustices suffered by the Sikh nation are numerous but today we are before you only for three issues. They are symbolic of our plight and the attitude of the state:

·           Encouragement by the Centre of anti-Sikh persons who camouflage, impersonate or equate themselves as Sikh Gurus (like Nirankaris, Bhanearewala, Ashutosh, Gurmit Ram Rahim Singh etc). Arrest and punishment of Dera Sirsa Cheif.

·           Return of the priceless collection of Sikh literature (a significant portion of which was in the hand of the Gurus themselves), Sikh paintings and artifacts of Sikh Reference Library looted during June 1984 Army Attack.

·           Review of Article 25 of the Constitution where Hindus are defined to include Sikhs, Jains and Buddhists

These matters are simple and important. We Sikhs feel that our religion, culture and its uniqueness are in peril. The Indian state has abdicated its moral, constitutional and legal duty to protect the interests of the Sikhs. Not only that, the state is bulldozing different religions, cultures and minorities into a bundled, dead uniformity. And it has completely given up the principle of unity in diversity.

An impostor from Dera Sirsa, Haryana, by the name of Gurmit 'Ram Rahim Singh' is challenging and humiliating the Sikhs again and again. This criminal has been charge sheeted for murder and rape by the premier investigating agency of the land, CBI. His sinister and provocative activities reached their acme last year, when he posed himself as the tenth master, Guru Gobind Singh and directly challenged the Sikh Panth. This impostor attacked democratically protesting Sikhs and he is responsible for the death of two Sikhs. From May 2007, the Sikhs have exhausted all forms of democratic protests to bring this criminal to book. But the government, instead of arresting and punishing him, went all the way to promote and protect him by providing central security to his deras and Z security to this hard core criminal. He roams throughout the country and leaves behind a trail of hatred, tension and violence. The entire Sikh Panth is one in demanding his arrest and punishment.

During 1984 army attack on Darbar Sahib, Amritsar, the Indian army ransacked Bhai Santokh Singh Sikh Reference Library and took away the rare manuscripts of Guru Granth Sahib and thousands of historical, religious and cultural documents numbering about 22000. To this day, nobody knows where this treasure rests, under which conditions, and with whom. We want to know why this treasure has not been returned to the Sikhs? Who is responsible for this criminal negligence? What is the reason behind the studied silence of Parliament and the Supreme Court of India? The Sikhs feel that they cannot participate joyfully and enthusiastically in the tercentenary Gurta Gaddi celebrations if this rare and unique treasure of Sikh Reference Library is not returned to them.

Like all the major religions of the world, the Sikh religion is independent and unique. The uniqueness of Sikh religion is evident in Guru Granth Sahib, and the Sikhs during different phases of their history have ruled this part of the land as a nation.

Intriguingly, in Article 25(2)(b) of the Indian Constitution, the Sikhs have been described as a part of Hindu religion. Thereafter, the Sikhs have vehemently demanded amendment of this article so that they are constitutionally recognized as an independent and separate religion. By this, we are not condemning any other religion but simply expressing our uniqueness.

All the three pillars of the state, i.e. Parliament, Executive and Judiciary have completely failed to render justice to the Sikh peoples. We have been struggling since long for the rights of Punjab and Sikh Panth. The state used violence to crush our just and democratic struggle. The state preferred violence instead of any political solution of the Punjab and Sikh conflict.

Now we are left with no other forum except your court (the people's court). 

We hope, nay, we are sure that you people having conscience, respect for human rights and dignity, and love for justice would understand the Sikh case and lend your support to our cause of humanity, peace and well being of all.

Daljit Singh(93160-74418),

Harpal Singh Cheema(98153-60051) ,   Gurjatinderpal Singh Bhikhiwind  (98720-02014)     Harinder Singh Khalsa (Norway)   (94632-68487)        Kamikar Singh Mukandpur  (98142-96660)

SHIROMANI AKALI DAL AMRITSAR (PANCH PARDHANI)