File Photo: Bapu Surat Singh Khalsa
FATEHGARH SAHIB, Punjab (May 13, 2015)—Representatives of various Sikh groups will walk down to residence of chief minister of Punjab for court arrest on May 15 protesting against governments failure to address the lingering issue of release of Sikh prisoners who have completed their jail terms.
Leaders from various Sikh groups like Dal Khalsa, United Akali Dal, Akali Dal Panch Pardani, Sikh Youth of Punjab, Akand Kirtani Jatha, Damdami Taksal (Ajnala), Panthik Sewa Lehar under the banner of Committee for the release of political prisoners (CRPP) will march from Gurdwara Fatehgarh Sahib to Chandigarh on Friday, said CRPP coordinator Gurdeep Singh Bhatinda in a statement here today.
He said the jatha would be led by Bhai Mohkam Singh, Harpal Singh Cheema, Dr Manjinder Singh Jandi, Amrik Singh Ajnala, Tarlok Singh Dalla, Baba Chandpur and RP Singh Mohali. He said after performing Ardas at historic gurdwara of Fatehgarh Sahib, the march would begin towards residence of Parkash Badal to voluntarily offer for court arrest.
He said the CRPP took this decision to voluntarily offer for arrest after all their appeals to Union as well as state governments has fell on deaf ears. He said Akali veteran Bapu Surat Singh who is on fast unto death since Jan 16 was determined to die for the cause”.
Dal Khalsa secretary Dr Manjinder Singh reiterated that Bapu Surat Singh is fighting for the freedom of Sikh prisoners who have not been released, despite serving the minimum terms of their sentence.
This struggle by Surat Singh is a continuation of what Gurbakash Singh left half-way that too abruptly, he said and added that this hunger strike by Surat Singh has once again brings attention to the fates of Sikh prisoners who are discriminated, and unlike other Indian prisoners have not had their sentences shortened. Fully supporting the cause of Bapu Surat Singh in his struggle for justice and equality to Sikh prisoners, he called upon all organisations, human rights and civil liberties groups to join the protest.