SACRAMENTO, July 29, 2011 – During his July 29, 2011 visit to Sacramento, Manpreet Badal of the Punjab People’s Party was presented “Faces of Terror in India,” a report by Sikh Information Centre about state-sponsored terrorism in India, and a copy of a memorandum by Organization for Minorities of India entitled “Does Manpreet Badal Offer a Vision of Liberty.”

Guru Ravidas Sabha presented the materials to Badal during a meeting with him at Hampton Inn Elk Grove. All representatives of Guru Ravidas Sabha took part in the special meeting on a Friday afternoon.

Ceremonies were conducted by Palvinder Mahi, an executive member of Yuba City Gurdwara. M. R. Paul, a retired Superintendent Engineer of Punjab State Electricity Board, spoke on behalf of Guru Ravidas Sabha. Paul reminded Badal that Dalits constitute 38% of Punjab’s population, saying that their grievances must be heeded and their cooperation sought if Badal really hopes to change the future of Punjab.

Dr. Amrik Singh spoke on behalf of Organization for Minorities of India, noting that politicians have practiced sectarianism in the garb of secularism for the past six decades. Corporations befriended by Punjab’s feudal lords collude to maintain the status-quo. Despite hollow promises of secularism, politicians who claim to represent the downtrodden of Punjab inevitably end up serving corporate interests. The poor of the country have literally no representation. Singh also remarked how the Punjabi population is seriously impacted by the hostile attitude of the Consulate General of India’s office. Although Punjabis have contributed vast wealth to the booming economy in India, they are nevertheless treated as third-rate citizens.

The memorandum presented by the Organization for Minorities of India questions Mr. Badal’s use of Bhagat Singh’s name for personal political purposes. Badal’s devotion to Mohandas Karmchand Gandhi is well known, yet it is a matter of historical record that Gandhi failed to protect Bhagat Singh from execution, even condemning him as a violent person. The memorandum also asserts that the foundation of true secularism was laid in 1606 at Harmandir Sahib. The sacrifice of his own life was made that year by Guru Arjan Dev Ji to sustain the ideals of secularism. Although divisive forces under the façade of secularism have always undermined the trust of people, the unification of many peoples under the aegis of Guru Granth Sahib has nevertheless succeeded many times.