Amidst the allegations that Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) is following Panthic agenda with an eye on 2017 State Assembly polls, the head of the SAD-led Shiromani Gurudwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) Avtar Singh Makkar on Thursday met Khalistani militant Devinder Pal Singh Bhullar.
Demanding his permanent release, Makkar also assured best possible legal help to Bhullar’s wife, Navneet Kaur. “We are ready to provide every possible help to Bhullar’s family. We will provide them whatever they want,” said Makkar, who met Bhullar in Amritsar hospital where he is undergoing treatment.
Makkar, accompanied by Takht Keshgarh Sahib’s head priest Giani Mal Singh, said that the SGPC, if needed be, would also provide legal help and can also arrange the best and expensive lawyers if the family wanted.
For meeting the 1993 Delhi bomb blast case convict, Makkar was given special permission from the Amritsar central jail authorities. As per the jail manual, the visitors are allowed to meet Bhullar only on Friday or Saturday.
Welcoming shifting of Bhullar and TADA convict Gurdeep Singh Khera to Punjab’s jails, SGPC chief said, “SGPC has always fought for the cause of Sikh prisoners who have spent decades in jails even after completing their tenure.”
After meeting Bhullar, Makkar said that he seemed better but not perfectly fine and could not talk much.
On the other hand, Bhullar’s wife said that our first priority was to ensure that his health improves and that was why they have not yet planned to approach the court or his parole. “We will apply for parole only once his health improves. He is recovering,” she said.