Surrey Mayor:'I'Ve Had Enough Of This Hornet'S Nest Called Vaisakhi"

[GPS]

Following from IHRO

International Human Rights OrganizationNorth America Western North America Western HemisphereCoordination office: # 202 12677-80 Ave, Surrey, BC, CanadaPhone: 604 834 1017/ 604 590 5200 Email: ihro.na@gmail.com

April 20, 2010

Ms Dianne Watts City MayorSurrey, BC

Regarding: Sikh Nagar Kirtan on Vaisakhi Parade on April 17, 2010 and its Impact on public authorities, including City’s Mayor

We, the International Human Rights Organisation (IHRO), are a NGO, with national focus and overseas network. It agitates both in India and internationally for protection of peoples’ rights irrespective of their caste, creed or political views. It strives to bring together all those who cherish democratic values in all spheres of life- social, economic and political and take active steps to preserve, defend and strengthen democracy. It has its head office in Punjab, a Home to the Sikhs.

The IHRO has its North America chapter, and its coordination office is here in Surrey. And the Sikh community has invited IHRO chairperson D S Gill from India to attend historical event, The Vaisakhi- Birthday of the Khalsa Panth (main stream Sikhs).

The Sikhs have been victims of the Indian State administration since the storming of the Golden Temple by the army and in the wake of the assassination of Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. Since then, thousands of Sikhs have been done to death by the Indian security forces. Reports of Amnesty International, Asia Watch etc, including this group based in India, are testimony to this fact. Even in most cases, the dead bodies of the victims were not handed over to their relatives.

Even judges of higher judiciary, professors, lawyers who provided defence to the victims, were not spared and liquidated after disappearing them from their home and hearth. They included six lawyers, four journalists and Human Rights activists, including one Jaswant Singh Khalra, who had appeared before the parliamentary group of Canadian MPs at Ottawa, with hundreds of cases of Sikh disappearances. Khalra, too, was done to death after disappearing him from his residence just within a month when he left Canada for India.

And, in the Vaisakhi parade, the photos of those victims who were killed by the security forces in India were displayed, seeking justice from the Indian government. Sikhs are a worldwide community and mostly lives in western democracies. They have been raising their voice against the state repression let loose on their brethren back in India on different occasions to make democratic governments and public aware about this inhuman treatment being meted out to their community. And it is a world known fact that justice to Sikhs is still awaited in India.

The IHRO had also expressed its concern over the reported request of Indian Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh to his Canadian counterpart Stephen Harper at Washington on Tuesday that the latter should monitor and curb the activities of the so called Sikh separatists who have been active here for the formation of Khalistan, a separate Sikh State in India in the wake of the storming of the Golden Temple and destruction of their spiritual-temporal Seat, Sri Akal Takhat Sahib by the Indian army, and the Sikh genocide following the assassination of the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in Delhi and elsewhere in India in1984.

We in IHRO are of the strong opinion that India, instead of delivering justice to the Sikhs in India, has started blackmailing the Sikhs living abroad, especially in Canada; with threat of black-listing all those Sikhs who would raise their voice against India's repressive and genocidal policies. While, according to the Supreme Court of India, mere raising of Khalistan slogans is no offence in India, then why the Sikhs here are being harassed and humiliated at the instance of India and its agencies.

We, therefore, urge your goodness to take note of all this mentioned above and beware of Indian propaganda which is not only misleading but illegal, too. You are also urged to come to the help of Indo- Canadian citizens who after getting visitor are not allowed to enter India without assigning any reason.

Yours sincerely,

(D S Gill) AdvocateChair IHRO

(Harkirat Singh Kular)IHRO-NA Coordinator

*mod edit: formatted text for easier reading*

[S1ngh]

Next year, ALL Nagar keertan attendees should wear t-shirt of Sant Jarnail singh Bhinderanwale and other mahan gursikh yoddhay of 1980's to make the statement !!! Geez where is freedom of speech??

[Singh559]

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh!

Next nagar kirtan make fliers with brief hitsory of the shaheeds and what they accomplished. The goal is to inform the masses while representing peacefully!

Someone in BC take this initiative and start doing this NOW. If you need any sort of help on writing up the fliers, formatting, and graphics i'll be more than willing to lend you a hand in this.

Instead of discussing this on the forum we need a pro-active approach and take advantage of this social networking forum and use it to connect us. By connecting ourselves we can unite and address each issue one by one.

Fateh ji

[Only five]

Dianne Watts, just committed political suicide:

Subject: The Hornets Nest that is 500,000 Canadian Sikhs.

To: Dlwatts@surrey.ca

Early this morning, a local newspaper quoted the mayor of Surrey, Dianne Watts as saying that she has “had enough with this hornet’s nest called Vaisakhi.” Perhaps out of ignorance or out of sheer arrogance, the statement will forever tarnish the image of Surrey’s Mayoral office as it begins a vehement campaign of disparagement and discrimination against the Canadian Sikh community.

Every year, the city of Surrey is livened as over a hundred thousand Sikhs and their non-Sikhs counterparts parade through the street inspiring to stand in solidarity for the celebration of the birth of the Khalsa. This birth, unknown and fallen deafly upon the ears of the Mayor, is more than just a hornets nest. The Birth of the Khalsa represents a centuries long struggle to free millions from the shackles of spiritual and political slavery, empowering them to take up defence of the defenceless, providing institutions and spaces for equitable engagements without the onerous caste ridden ideologies that discriminated against them putting them on par with the swine and foul that lined the villages of Panjab. This was the pinnacle of a social, spiritual and political revolution that drastically changed the dynamics of Indian society and created such a shift in the paradigm that would forever change the mosaic of India for centuries to come. This was the day of Vaisakhi.

Uncouthly, Mayor Watts has taken an issue that may have had legitimate concerns and expediently turned it into an all out discriminatory attack against the Sikh community. This clumsiness not only reflects in her unfortunate and hurtful words, but her constant statements that Gurdwara Sahib Dasmesh Darbar had provided her and her office assurances that no so called ‘controversial’ floats would be present. The Gurdwara Sahib Dasmesh Darbar has made no such formal arrangements with the Mayor.

The Canadian Sikh Coalition demands that Mayor Dianne Watts provide substantial evidence that the organizers of the parade had provided written and formal agreements with her and her office that no so called controversial floats would be allowed. It is without doubt that any float that is allowed to enter the parade is firstly inspected by the RCMP. The Canadian Sikh Coalition would also like legal clarification as to how the City can run a religious festival under it’s parameters of a clear and distinct separation from church and state. Lastly, the Canadian Sikh Coalition is deeply troubled that blatant lies are being propagated suggesting that the floats contained pictures of Talwinder Singh Parmar and the two Sikhs who assassinated Indira Ghandi. The floats did not contain the images of these individuals. It is incumbent of Mayor Watts that she clarifies why she stated otherwise.

If these statements are not made clear and if they continue to persist, the Gurdwara Sahib Dasmesh Darbar will have no other recourse but to publicly denounce Mayor Watts and ensure that the Sikh community does not support Mayor Watts in any capacity. Most importantly, Mayor Watts will always be seen as an individual with a predisposed bias against the Sikh community.

Regards,

Everyone just send this exact letter in to Dianne Watts. Let that inbox be completely filled.

[apnepart2]

dont fret. according to another local news shes already met with temple committee. people shouldnt depend upon sensational media and opportunistic politicians like dosanjh or rumour mongers who cater not to canadians but their indo patrons.

http://www.theprovin...5656/story.html

[GPS]

Only Five

You come from that area. I heard This Gurudwara Dashmesh darbar has lost its original character. many term it as a kala afghana gurudwara.

Any opinion on this?

I think opening of iHRO center in Canada is very welcome move. I can trust them as they are doing wonderful work for sikhs.

[LifeIsBeautiful]

Just a note, Dasmesh Darbar is a pretty panthic gurdwara. Probably one of the best in the world. I think the problem with them is that the leadership isn't the smartest.

www.dasmeshdarbar.com

[SunSingh]

dasmesh darbar stands on a platform of khalistan, not on a platform of Gurmat.

[Only five]

dasmesh darbar stands on a platform of khalistan, not on a platform of Gurmat.

I second this. Damesh Darbar used to be all about Gurmat. Now their moving off into fanatical Khalistan ways.

I support Khalistan, but not Damesh Darbar version of it.

[apnepart2]

http://www2.canada.c...f5-16f2e8794079

I think it is too much of a public event now. Vaisakhi is BIG and a lot of Non-Sikhs are getting involved every year as all kind of people are welcome to Gurus door (Sarb Sangat Guru Ka Khalsa hai -remember ?). It time for the committee to act in a manner befitting of a Sikh . Whoever organises the parade should behave in a proper manner and make sure noone is made upset.

Read this too.

A popular parade on Saturday did not feature images of people linked to terrorism, contrary to several reports.

http://www.bclocalne...s/91841139.html

Its time someone sued Vancouver Sun.