Damdami Taksal demands release of Sikh prisoners

The demand to release the Sikh prisoners, who are languishing in jails even after completing their sentence, was raised by Sikh organisation Damdami Taksal chief Harnam Singh Dhumma while addressing the huge gathering during the 350th foundation day celebrations of the holy town if Sri Anandpur Sahib. 

Dhumma’s demand came much before the Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh reached the venue, but in the presence of Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal.  The Sikh leader appreciated Badal for making “all out efforts” to bring 1993 Delhi bomb blast convict Devinder Pal Singh Bhullar back to Punjab, while feeling pity on his poor health and mental condition.

Dhumma further asked Badal to continue with his efforts to bring back more such Sikh prisoners to their homeland, by talking with the other states, and urged the Centre to assist.Already, various Sikh organizations have been seeking the release of Sikh prisoners languishing in jails across India after completing their tenure.

82-year-old Bapu Surat Singh Khalsa has been staging a hunger strike since January 16, protesting against the illegal and prolonged detention of the Sikh political prisoners. Currently, he is in Chandigarh’s PGI for treatment.

He has been seeking release of Sikh political prisoners, besides calling for an unconditional release of prisoners of all religions, who have completed their terms.

Transfer of Bhullar from Delhi’s Tihar Jail to Amritsar Central Jail was hailed by all Sikh organisations, with further demands of shifting other Sikh prisoners too.

The development has brought the two alliance partners — SAD and the BJP — face-to-face with each other, with the saffron party strongly opposing the move, and questioning its ally of taking the decision without consulting it.

During the function on Friday, before Union Minister Rajnath Singh began his speech, a group of Sikhs raised “Rajnath Go back” slogans and demanded release of Sikh detainee lodged in different jails.Singh, during his address, purposely skipped the issue even though he appreciated and hailed the Sikh community for making great sacrifices for the nation.

Besides the issue of Sikh prisoners, radical leader Dhumma also demanded that sacrifices by Sikh gurus be included in the school curriculum in the entire country.He asked the Centre to fulfil all promises related to Punjab and Sikhs which were made by the BJP before coming to power.Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) president Manjit Singh GK also called upon the Centre to resolve the issue of gurdwars of Pakistan and properties attached with them.