Cyril Radcliffe arrived in Delhi where the Boundary Commission began its consultation with Indian representatives.

The Times reported the following:

“SIKHS AND PUNJAB BOUNDARY

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MEETING IN DELHI

DELHI, JULY 8

Addressing a meeting attended by most of the Sikhs in Delhi to-day, Sadar Baldev Singh, Defence Member in the Central Government, declared that if the verdict of the Punjab boundary commission went against the Sikhs, they would oppose it ‘tooth and nail,’ and consider no sacrifice too great to ‘vindicate the honour of the Panth.’

While it was true, he said, that the Sikhs had accepted the British Government’s statement of June 3, this did not mean that they would accept the boundary commission’s findings if they were unfavourable to Sikhs. The Defence Minister urged the Sikhs to remain peaceful until the commission’s decision was known, but exhorted them to make preparations for a struggle, if necessary ‘without looking for help from any quarter.’

A resolution was passed demanding the fixing of the River Chenab as a boundary line between the eastern and western provinces of the Punjab. Sikhs all over India observed a hartal to-day in protest against ‘injustice’ done to the Sikhs. All shops owned by Hindus and Sikhs remained closed in Delhi, and Sikh men and women wore black arm-bands.”

Source: ‘Sikhs and Punjab Boundary’, The Times (8 July 1947)