Mohali, Punjab (December 02, 2013): To highlight the cause of Gurbakash Singh, who was on fast-unto-death for last 18 days, the Sikh bodies today resolved to undertake a March on Dec 4 that would start from Akal Takht and culminate at Gurdwara Amb Sahib in Mohali.
Pertinently, Gurbakash Singh, who was on hunger strike since Nov 14 has sought the release of certain former militants, who according to him were not being released from jails even when they had completed the prison sentences awarded to them by the respective courts.
Representatives of Sikh bodies gathered at local Gurdwara, where Gurbakash Singh was sitting on hunger strike to express their solidarity with him and also to attract government’s attention towards their demand.
Dal Khalsa spokesperson Satnam Singh Paonta Sahib and Panch Pardani leader Harpal Singh Cheema said the march would begin from Amritsar on 4th morning after performing ardas at Akal Takht. After passing through various cities, it would reach Mohali in the evening.
Prominent amongst those who attended today’s meet includes Dal Khalsa head Harchranjit Singh Dhami, Akali Dal Panch Pardani leader Bhai Daljit Singh Bittu & Mandhir Singh, former IAS Gurtej Singh , former DGP Shashi Kant, former Akal Takht head Prof Darshan Singh, Human Rights Activists Advocate Navkiran Singh, Advocate Amar Singh Chahal, Sikh scholar Gurdarshan Singh Dhillon and Sikh Preacher Ranjit Singh Dhadrehanwala.
The speakers castigated Shiromani Akali Dal for its stoic silence and urged its leadership to take up the issue of release of Sikh prisoners with the Union Home Ministry.
Justifying the hunger strike by Gurbakash Singh, they said denial of justice to Sikhs by successive governments have forced him to take this step. They accused the Indian state of adopting double standards and discriminating against the Sikhs. .
Forty-seven-year-old Gurbakash Singh, who belongs to Haryana, has sought the release of Lakhvinder Singh, Gurmeet Singh and Shamsher Singh, who have spent 18 years in prison in the case of assassination of former Chief Minister, Beant Singh. Similarly, he seeks the release of Lal Singh from Nabha Jail in Punjab and Gurdeep Singh from Karnataka, as they too had completed 20 years and 23 years in jail, respectively, after being convicted by different courts under the provisions of TADA.
Meanwhile, SGPC president Avtar Singh Makkar and Jathedar Akal Takht Gaini Gurbachan Singh visited the gurdwara to inquire about the well being of Gurbakash Singh.