The move of Gurbaksh Singh Khalsa to observe fast-unto-death for the release of five “militants”, including three convicted for assassinating former Chief Minister Beant Singh, after completion of their jail sentences in different States has snowballed into a major controversy.
Hours after Gurbaksh Singh was “forcibly” taken away by the police, and thrown in to Ropar jail, another youngster — Damandeep Singh — has replaced him and started fast-unto-death “till the release of Gurbaksh Singh and concerned Sikh prisoners” at Amb Sahib Gurdwara in Mohali.
On the other hand, “undeterred” Gurbaksh Singh, hailing from Haryana, has declared to continue with his struggle and fast-unto-death in jail, entering in 20th day.
This is not all! The Panthic parties, including Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar), Akali Dal Panch Pardhani (ADPP), Dal Khalsa, Sant Samaj, Sikh Student Federation (SSF), too have stepped in and offered complete support to the movement. The issue hovering around militancy in Punjab has been raised some two decades after the terrorism in the State was stepped.
Punjab Government has also appealed the panthic leader to end his fast, while at the same time, ensuring that “nothing should be done to disturb the hard earned atmosphere of peace and communal harmony in the state”.
Starting his fast on November 14, Gurbaksh Singh was seeking the release of five Sikhs languishing in prisons “after completion of their jail sentences”. They include: Gurmeet Singh, Shamsher Singh, lakhwinder Singh — all lodged in Chandigarh’s Burail Jail since 1995, laal Singh — lodged at Nabha Jail in Punjab since 1992 and Gurdeep Singh lodged at Gulbarga jail in Karnataka since 1990.
Three of them — lakhwinder Singh, Gurmeet Singh and Shamsher Singh — were convicted and sentenced to life by the trial court in 2007 for their involvement in assassinating former Chief Minister Beant Singh on August 31, 1995, outside Punjab Civil Secretariat at Chandigarh. Their conviction and sentence were upheld by the Division Bench of the Punjab and Haryana High Court on October 12, 2010.
The Punjab Government has maintained that Gurbaksh Singh’s demands “fell outside its jurisdiction”, and “fell within the purview of different State Governments, Union Territories and Central Government and required a consideration by them”.
“All of them have completed life sentence awarded to them which is of 14 years, but their sentences have been stretched to 18 to 23 years now. We are fighting against injustice meted out to them,” SAD (Amritsar) president Simranjeet Singh Mann told The Pioneer.
Mann, who attended a joint meeting of all panthic parties, maintained that they all would be supporting the step initiated by the youth. The meeting, held at Amb Sahib Gurdwara after Gurbaksh Singh’s arrest, decided to endorse and support the fast unto death by Damandeep Singh that was started after performing ardas (prayers).
It has been learnt that the life imprisonment in Punjab has been translated as 14-year imprisonment, including both day and night, while it has been interpreted as 20 years in Haryana.
A joint memorandum was sent to various Governments in August 2013, intimating them to release the concerned Sikh prisoners. After the governments concerned failed to respond to the demand of Sikh bodies, they held a protest March on November 14 from Amb Sahib (Mohali) towards Chandigarh and resubmitted a memorandum intimating the concerned Governments about fast-unto-death and demands of Singh.
Gurbaksh Singh Booked
The Punjab Police has booked Gurbaksh Singh under Sections 107 and 151 of IPC. “We have arrested and booked him under Sections 107, and 151. He is currently in Ropar jail,” said Mohali Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Inder Mohan Singh.
Gurbaksh Singh was taken away from Amb Sahib Gurdwara by the police at the intervening night of December 5 and 6.
He was initially admitted to Mohali’s Phase-VI Civil Hospital, but was later in the day, taken to Ropar Jail.
To Continue Fast from prison
Undeterred, Gurbaksh Singh has decided to continue fast from jail. His associate Harpal Singh Cheema maintained that Gurbaksh Singh has sent a clear message that his fast unto death shall continue in jail.
“Gurbaksh Singh has said that the Sikh sangat should not change the location of the struggle,” he added. In his place, ludhiana lad Damandeep Singh has started fast-unto-death.
Punjab Govt’s Appeal
Expressing concern over the. Gurbaksh Singh’s health, Punjab Government spokesperson on Friday appealed him to end his fast.
“Demands being put forth by Gurbaksh Singh fell outside the jurisdiction of the state government of Punjab. The demands raised Gurbaksh Singh fell within the purview of different State Governments, Union Territories and Govt of India and required a consideration by them,” he added.
Maintaining that fast-unto-death “is not a solution to these issues”, he stressed on working together to create an atmosphere congenial for resolving all these issues. Punjab had to pay a very heavy price in the past and “the atmosphere of peace and communal harmony that now prevails in the state has been won by Punjabis by making countless sacrifices, Nothing should be done to disturb this”, he said.