Surat Singh Khalsa: 200th day of fast

Double century in fasting by 82-year-old Sikh activist Surat Singh Khalsa, seeking release of “political prisoners”, has attracted international attention.

As the Global Sikh organisations have expressed concern and supporting Khalsa’s demand, the Amnesty International, India, has urged the Punjab Government to respect fasting Sikh activist's “freedom of expression and right to protest”.

As Khalsa’s hunger strike enters 200th day on Tuesday, support for his demand of prisoners “irrespective of their religion”, who are languishing in jails even after completion of their sentence, has been pouring in not only in Punjab or India, but from across the globe.This is not all! Various Sikh organisations, back home, and Khalsa’s supporters — Surat Singh Khalsa Sangharsh Committee — are planning to stage a protest outside Parliament on Wednesday. Besides, a protest has also been planned against Khalsa’s “illegal detention” outside ludhiana’s Dayanand Medical College and Hospital, where he has been “forcibly” admitted, on August 6.

Human Rights Organisation, Amnesty International India, raising Khalsa’s issue, on Tuesday urged the Punjab Government to “respect” fasting Sikh hardline activist’s freedom of expression and right to protest.Amnesty international, in his official release, has termed Khalsa’s hunger strike in ludhiana, since January 16, 2015, in support of his demand for the release of political prisoners, a “peaceful form of protest”.

On July 21, Punjab Police detained Khalsa at Dayanand Medical College and Hospital, where he has since been force-fed, it read.Khalsa’s lawyer told Amnesty International that he had not been allowed to meet the octogenarian activist, who has been similarly detained on previous occasions and subsequently released.

“Amnesty International India urges the Punjab overnment to respect Khalsa’s freedom of expression, and ensure that he is treated humanely and with dignity at all times. He should have access to his family, lawyers and medical professionals. He must not be subjected to denial of such access, or any other punitive measures, on account of his hunger strike,” read the release.

In this regard, Khalsa’s lawyer Gurjinder Singh Sahni has sent notice to ludhiana Deputy Commissioner Rajat Aggarwal claiming that his client had been “illegally detained” at the DMCH.A clarification has been sought from the DC on whether Khalsa had been arrested or not.The lawyer has also warned of moving the Punjab and Haryana High Court and filing a petition against Khalsa’s illegal detention, in case the DC failed to reply the legal notice.

Supporting Khalsa’s “non-violent humanitarian campaign”, a peaceful protest was organised outside the Indian High Commission in london. As a part of protest, the protestors will distribute literature about Khalsa and his campaign in front of the Indian High Commission and the surrounding areas on a daily basis.

KNOW KHAlSA

Surat Singh Khalsa, also known as ‘Bapu Surat Singh Khalsa’ is a civil rights and political activist from Punjab. Born on March 7, 1933, Khalsa has been involved with various political struggles related to Sikhs in Punjab.A permanent resident of the United States who lives near Stockton, CA, Khalsa is currently observing a hunger strike as a form of peaceful protest against illegal and prolonged detention of “innocent political prisoners” across India.

On January 16 this year, Khalsa began a hunger strike which enters 200-mark on Tuesday. He has refused food and water for more than six months to seek the release of Sikh political prisoners who have completed their court sentences.While he is seeking release of Sikh political prisoners, he has also called for “unconditional release of prisoners of all religions who have completed their terms”.

On February 11, Khalsa wrote an open letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi explaining the motive of his hunger strike while summing up his demands in two points: to treat all Sikh prisoners — under trials and those sentenced in cases relating to the Sikh struggle — as political prisoners; and to release all prisoners who have completed their full jail terms and are legitimately due for release, exactly in the same manner, as other prisoners are so released in various other parts of the country.