Dal Khalsa petitions UN for justice to sikhs

Encouraged by the US-sponsored UN resolution calling for a credible independent investigation into war crimes committed in Sri Lanka, Punjab-based Sikh rights group Dal Khalsa has urged the United Nations to intervene and ensure justice is also delivered to victims of extra judicial killings of innocent Sikhs on the streets of Delhi in November 1984.

In a statement issued here, party secretary for political affairs, Kanwar Pal, said that the killing of Sikhs in 1984 also demands the attention of the international community.

He said that the party has sent a letter addressed to United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Ms. Navi Pillay urging the UN to intervene in India for protection of rights of Sikhs and Kashmiris.

Dal Khalsa's secretary for human rights Prithpal Singh today met Ms. Sabina Lauber, a Human Rights Officer in charge of Asia Pacific Section in Geneva and handed over the letter to him.

Mr. Prithpal Singh also participated in a sit-in organised by European Tamils outside UN headquarters to express solidarity with them.

The Dal Khalsa letter states that Sikhs and Kashmiris have been saying for decades that India has committed gross violation of human rights, adding that like Sri Lanka, India too has continuously flouted UN resolutions, UN treaties and conventions, but to no avail.