PATIALA, Punjab—Terming the freedom of expression and speech as the cornerstone of democracy, Member Parliament from Patiala, Dr. Dharamvira Gandhi, has sought open debate on the Khalistan issue. Talking with Sikh24, Dr. Dharamvir Gandhi said that although he was against the ideology of forming religion or ethnicity based state but the open debate on Khalistan was the need of hour as the issue has been prevailing in the state of Punjab from more than three decades.
He added that oppressing an ideology forcefully was not the ultimate solution and open debate on the issue was necessary. He also stated that leveling sedition charges against organizers of ‘Sarbat Khalsa’ was unjust as nothing seems anti-national in the religious gathering held at village Chabba of Amritsar District.
He stated that the talk about the formation of a sovereign Sikh state ‘Khalistan’ seems to be at its peak these days, among the protagonist and antagonist, but the government is trying to push the issue under carpet forcefully which was not fair. He asserted that open debate to deliberate upon pros and cons of Khalistan was necessary among its protagonists and antagonists.
“Although the issue was uncomfortable for anyone believing in the integrity of our country, but suppressing the wishes of a community to maintain national integrity was also prohibited in the Indian constitution,” he added.