Declare June 6th as state holiday: All India Sikh Students Federation

<p> <st1:city w:st="on"><span>AMRITSAR</span></st1:city><span>: All <st1:country-region w:st="on">India</st1:country-region> Sikh Students Federation (AISSF) has demanded from </span>Shiromani Akali Dal <span> (Badal) led <st1:place w:st="on">Punjab</st1:place> government to declare June 6th as state holiday and to declare it as "Genocide Remembrance Day" to honor the martyrdom of Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p> <span>AISSF president Karnail Singh Peermohammad told mediapersons on Saturday that by declaring June 6th as state holiday and "genocide remembrance day", it would be a befitting homage to Bhindranwale who was martyred in June 1984 protecting Sikh rights and defending Sri Akal Takhat Sahib during the military assault.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p> <span>Giving reference of the General KS Brar's book, "Operation Bluestar: The True Story" he said that the author had stated that the attack on Harmandir Sahib and Akal Takhat during June 1984 was intentional, preplanned and a deliberate action to suppress the Sikhs demand for sovereignty.He said, "Parkash Singh Badal has himself led a campaign for a separate Sikh identity during Dharam Yudh Morcha and has undergone years of imprisonment for this cause".<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p> <span>Now being the chief minister of <st1:place w:st="on">Punjab</st1:place>, he is in a position to declare June 6th as Genocide Remembrance Day". He said that on May 5th Akal Takhat had issued an edict directing AISSF and Sikh for Justice to file a petition before the United Nations to recognize the killings of Sikhs during 1984 as "genocide". He said AISSF had announced that on May 20th they will launch the "1984 yes its genocide campaign" from Akal Takhat Sahib under patronage of all five takhat jathedars to obtain one million signatures in support of a UN led investigation.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p> </p>