(Sukhbir S Badal says party ready to take on central govt to demand justice for Sikh community and resolution of all pending issues of Punjab)
(SAD dharna attended by SAD (Delhi) President Paramjit S Sarna and Jago party leader Manjit S GK)
Delhi: The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) today held a ‘dharna’ at Jantar Mantar to demand the immediate release of all Sikh detenues languishing in prisons across the country even after completion of their life sentences besides demanding chief minister Arvind Kejriwal sign the release orders of Prof Devinderpal Singh Bhullar which are lying on this desk for seven months now.
SAD President Sukhbir Singh Badal led the dharna during the course of which the ‘Rihai’ song which has been banned on YouTube was played out, even as the SAD president asserted the party was ready to take on the central government to demand justice for the Sikh community as well as resolution of all pending issues of Punjab.
The dharna, which was attended by the senior SAD leadership, also received support from the SAD (Delhi) and the Jago party with their presidents Paramjit Singh Sarna and Manjit Singh GK expressing solidarity with the cause of release of all Bandi Singhs (Sikh detenues).
In an emotional speech on the occasion, Mr Sukhbir Badal said the Sikh community had gathered alongside the SAD to demand an end to the human rights violations being done unto Sikh detenues who remained incarcerated in various jails across the country even after completion of their life sentences. “We are not asking for reduction of their life sentences, but asking the union government to fulfill its national commitment to commute the death sentence of Bhai Balwant Singh Rajoana to life and release of eight Sikh detenues who have served their life sentences on the occasion of 550th birth anniversary of Sri Guru Nanak Dev ji”.
Asserting that the Sikh detenues deserved to be freed, Mr Badal said “they were swayed by sentiments following the attack on Sri Darbar Sahib and subsequent genocide of Sikhs in 1984. They have served their sentences”.
In a gesture of defiance, the SAD President also sang stanzas from the Rihai song of Kanwar Grewal – ‘tusi sadi kaum de khilaf chal rahe ho, ji paira haith lai ke insaaf chal rahe ho’ which was played out on the occasion. Asserting that Kanwar Grewal had only expressed the sentiments of the Sikh community, Mr Badal said ‘we have never aspired for kingship and have instead always sacrificed ourselves fighting tyranny and oppression during the time of the Guru Sahiban and for the cause of Punjabis and the country after partition”. He even gave the instance of various ‘morchas’ led by the SAD including the Punjabi Suba morcha and the Dharam Yudh morcha besides the protest against the dreaded Emergency, asserting these movements were created not to acquire power but to reflect the voice of Punjabis across the country. We will keep doing this and are committed to ensuring the release of Bandi Singhs”, he added.
Mr Badal also castigated the AAP government of Delhi and its chief minister Arvind Kejriwal for not signing the release orders of Prof Devinderpal Singh Bhullar which were lying on his desk for seven months after completion of all formalities.
He also urged Punjabis to unite under one flag while welcoming the gesture of both Mr Paramjit Singh Sarna and Manjit Singh GK, asserting conspiracies were afoot to weaken the SAD. He also castigated Sangrur MP Simranjit Singh Mann for demanding Khalistan at public forums but applying to take oath in the Speakers chamber in parliament in the name of the unity and integrity of the country.
The SAD will also submitted memorandums to union home minister Amit Shah calling for the release of Bhai Balwant Singh Rajoana besides all other Sikh detenues languishing in jails after completion of their jail terms and to Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal asking him to sign the release order of Prof Bhullar.
