Indian Workers Association (G.B) and Kohinoor Radio 97.3 FM held a very successful public hustings commemorating 100 years since the Jallianwala Bagh massacre & 35 years since the 1984 Sikh Massacre in Amritsar. Over 120 people attended the meeting with 26 people speaking on behalf of their organisations including Leicester Councillors Vijay Raiyat Councillor Manjit Kaur and Kuldip Singh Cheroo, Vice President of the Federation of Sikh Organisations. It was also broadcast in Leicester on 97.3 FM and globally on
www.krfm.co.uk also a documentary was also made by Akal Chanel TV.
Mr. Sital Singh Gill General Secretary of the Indian Workers Association Leicestershire (GB) opened the meeting speaking about the persecution of ethnic minorities globally. This was followed by speeches from local Councillors and representatives of many Sikh Gurdwara (temples) from Leicester. The congregation heard speeches from other progressive organisations and the whole community addressed this historic event with passion. Many local poets also filled the atmosphere with patriotic sentiments, expressing the spirit of justice and well being of humanity.
Speakers gave a historical account of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre in 1919 whereby 1500 people were shot dead and several thousand innocent people injured dead by British Soldiers on order of Brigadair General Dyer. Speakers also gave accounts of the attacks on the Golden Temple in 1984 whereby the Sikhs holiest shrine was attacked by Indian armed forces and thousands of Sikh worshippers were killed.Topics covered included the subsequent genocide of Sikhs in Delhi, the Communal carnage of Moslems in Gujerat in 1992, and many other examples of genocide against the ethnic minorities’ people of India and other countries like Christians in Pakistan. The speakers gave many historical examples of use of state terrorism and genocide in trying to crush people struggling for real freedom and independence.Everyone expressed solidarity in opposing all forms of genocide of innocent people, opposing violation of human rights and state sponsored communal violence. The speakers applauded the sacrifices of patriots of the Ghadar Party, Martyrs like Shaheed Udham Shaheed, Kartar Singh Sarabha, Bhagat Singh and others who fought for genuine freedom and democracy . These beloved patriots envisaged a system that looked after the wellbeing of working people, these sentiments were echoed in the ethos of the IWA. Mr. Sital Gill spoke of nurturing “a society free from exploitation of the labouring masses” he spoke that “only such a system can truly end genocide of freedom loving people and ethnic minorities. The struggles for the fulfilment of these dreams and aspirations to protect those who are weaker and in small numbers must continue”.
The speakers emphasised that there should be no repeat of a Jallianwala Bagh massacre and any form of genocide of innocent people. The meeting ended with a resolution demanding a full independent enquiry into the massacre of Sikhs in 1984 and an apology from the British Government about Jallainwala Bagh massacre in 13 April 1919.
