World Sikh Parliament goes to UNHRC

LONDON: The Sikh representatives from a number of countries linked to the World Sikh Parliament (WSP) gathered in Geneva to update United Nations officials and member states on the WSP initiative to gain support for the right to self-determination for Sikhs to form an independent homeland called Khalistan.

At the start of the 37th session of the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC), Sikh leaders arrived in Geneva for the first time to hold talks with the UN officials after communications were exchanged with Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and Vojislav Šuc, the President of the United Nations Human Rights Council.

15-member Coordination Committee of World Sikh Parliament told The News that they have been told when fully developed the WSP will become the representative political body of the sovereign Sikh Quam (nation), which is currently stateless, at the international level.

The WSP will be the international voice of the sovereign Sikh Quam (nation) and will lead engagement with international political institutions and structures like the United Nations, Commonwealth and European Union on relevant issues, said the WSP.

This latest political development at the United Nations this week will be a huge boost to those campaigning for a sovereign Sikh state with the agreed mission statement for the World Sikh Parliament to work towards the creation of a sovereign Sikh state of Khalistan.

The agreed membership criteria for the World Sikh Parliament is each of the 150 representatives must: fully subscribe to Sanat Jarnail Singh Bhindranwala Ji’s assertion that the attack on the Darbar Sahib Complex laid the foundation stone for Khalistan; categorically support the Sarbat Khalsa Declaration of Khalistan on April 29, 1986, subsequently supported at the Sarbat Khalsa 2015; and have a proven track record of commitment and working towards Khalistan due to the organisations in which the person has served.