USA park to be named after Human Rights Activist Jaswant Singh Khalra
Fresno, CA, USA , September 02, 2017 : In an extraordinary move the city council of Fresno City of the California state of USA has decided to change the name of an important Park of the city as Jaswant Singh Khalra Park. The council in its meeting held on Thursday evening unanimously decided to change the name of the Victoria Park of West Fresno to honour and recognise the sacrifice and the services of the late Human Right Activist of Punjab Jaswant Khalra who was abducted and killed by the police in 1995 for raising voice against the gross human rights violations by the Punjab police and other security forces.
All the five members of the council took this historic decision in the presence of a large number of people belonging to the Sikh community including Navkiran Kaur , daughter of late Jaswant Khalra. She also spoke on the issue .
( Navkiran Kaur Khalra , daughter of late Jaswant Khalra with City Council members-FB photo )
Radio host and singer Manjit Singh Pattar , who attended the meeting and recited a poem in memory of Khalra told Babushahi.com that the initiative for this move was taken by the Jakara Movement organisation formed by the young Sikh boys of the area . Pishora Singh Dhillon of Sikh council was also present .
( Pictures of the meeting of the Fresno City Council in which the decision to change the name of the park was taken-FB photos )
The initiater of this proposal Jakara Movement has commented , " A huge thank you to Councilmembers Oliver Baines and Councilmember Esmeralda Soria for standing with their constituencies and honoring the Sikh contribution to the Valley. Thank you to the entire sangat that came out, those that wore blue, those that wore pins, and those that cheered on this event from afar.
This historic occasion marks the first-time in North America that a public landmark is dedicated to a Shaheed. We will be planning some events very soon at Shaheed Jaswant Singh Khalra Park in Fresno, CA. Come and join us! "
Prminent Human Rights Avtivist Lawyer Navkiran Singh has welcomed this decsion of the City Council of Fresno and said that it was a historical event to remember a great martyr who sacrificed his life for the protection of human rights of the people.
To know more about Jaswant Singh Khalra , click at Wiki link :
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jaswant_Singh_Khalra
http://www.babushahi.in/full-news.php?id=44948