Badal appeals to PM: consider sentiments of the Sikhs; take appropriate steps to release Sikh detainees from their prolonged detention
Bahadurjeet Singh/Chamkaur Sahib, December 22 ,2023
Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal today appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to consider the sentiments of the Sikh ‘quom’ and take appropriate steps to release Bhai Balwant Singh Rajoana and all other Sikh detainees from their prolonged incarceration ranging up to thirty years.
The SAD president was here to pay obeisance at Gurdwara Katalgarh Sahib on the commencement of the three-day Shaheedi Jor Mela besides participating in the ongoing ‘Meri Dastar Meri Shaan’ programme of the Youth Akali Dal (YAD). Later he also paid his obeisance at Gurdwara Sri Fatehgarh Sahib.
Talking to newsmen, Sukhbir Badal said the demand for release of the ‘Bandi Singhs’ was a collective desire of the Sikh community and the same had been reflected by Bathinda MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal in parliament. “The issue is also one of human rights of the Sikh detainees who are still incarcerated after the completion of their jail sentences”.
Badal said the union government should take into consideration the special circumstances under which the Sikh detainees had taken certain steps. “They were driven by emotion following the attack on Sri Darbar Sahib by the then Congress government as well as the later State sponsored genocide of Sikhs”. He said if the killers of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi could be released; there was no reason why similar treatment could not be given to the Sikh detainees. He also pointed out how the Sikh detainees continued to be incarcerated for nearly three decades even as those who had attacked Gurughars and indulged in the massacre of Sikhs in 1984 were still at large.
Badal also participated in the Meri Dastar Meri Shaan programme during the course of which he lauded the YAD and its president Sarabjit Singh Jhinjher for instilling pride in the turban amongst the youth besides associating them with Sikhism and Sikh principles. “I appeal to the YAD to take this drive to each and every corner of the State”, he added. Mr Jhinjher disclosed that more than 1,000 Sikh youth had adorned the turban today even as he announced that a similar camp would be organized on December 26 -27 at Fatehgarh Sahib.
Answering a query, the SAD president said Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Convener Arvind Kejriwal should not run away from facing the Enforcement Directorate (ED) which was probing his role in the Delhi excise scam in which senior leaders of AAP were already behind bars. He said Kejriwal had chosen to dodge the ED summons by hiding in Punjab because he knew he was guilty. In reply to another question, Mr Badal said there was a growing perception among Punjabis that it was necessary to strengthen the SAD for the welfare of Punjab as well as the Sikh quom.
Badal appeals to PM: consider sentiments of the Sikhs; take appropriate steps to release Sikh detainees from their prolonged detention. Senior leaders Prof Prem Singh Chandumajra and Dr Daljit Singh Cheema were also present on the occasion.
