Prof. Devender Pal Singh Bhullar
Amritsar/ Ludhiana (April 12, 2013): The decision of Supreme Court of India clearing execution of Sikh political prisoner Professor Devender Pal Singh Bhullar has received bitter reaction from various Sikh organization.
According to certain media report: “[e]xpressing resentment over the Supreme Court dismissing the mercy plea of death row convict Devinderpal Singh Bhullar, the chiefs of temporal seat of Sikhs, Akal Takht, and apex representative body of Sikhs, the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), on Friday said they would still explore options to save Bhullar from going to gallows”.
This is a Judicial Murder; SGPC Chief
SGPC Presidnet Avtar Singh Makkar
It is learnt that SGPC President Avtar Singh Makkar said “[t]his is judicial murder”.
“I reiterate that there are two sets of laws, a separate one for minorities. On one side death penalty is given to Bhullar on the basis of merely his confessional statement that could be given by anyone under duress and there are no witnesses who give statement against Bhullar, on the other side seven death sentences of a butcher like Kishori Lal, who murdered more than 30 persons with knife, are commuted” said SGPC Chief.
“… And justice remains awaited in 1984 case where thousands of Sikhs were brutally murdered, women were disgraced, children were also killed and properties worth crores belonging to Sikhs were looted. And this happened in largest democracy of world. That is why I being the representative of a minority community say that there are two sets of laws,” he reportedly added.
Avtar Singh Makkar further said that “[i]t is very unfortunate that a man who has already served more than 20 years in jail and is mentally unstable is being ordered to be hanged. The Central government should introspect and review the decision. I will go to Delhi to seek legal opinion as to what could be done now to save Bhullar”.
Exposes dual standards of Law in India: Akal Takhat Jathedar
Giani Gurbachan Singh
Meanwhile, Giani Gurbachan Singh Jathedar of Akal Takhat Sahib said “One cannot be given two punishments, life imprisonment and then death sentence”.
“Professor Bhullar has already been in jail for a long period. And, moreover law prohibits awarding death penalty to a deranged person. I am consulting the matter with SGPC and would direct them to take every legal course to get the execution stopped” Giani Gurbachan Singh added.
“After the court order today, there is a wave of sadness among the Sikh community. In a signature campaign to save Bhullar, lakhs of people expressed their solidarity with Bhullar to save him. And those who favoured mercy for Bhullar were not only Sikhs, but Hindus also” he said furhter.
Questioning the basis of death penalty awarded by Indian court to Professor Bhullar, Giani Gurbachan Singh raised the point of “split decision”. He said: “[o]ne of the judges in three judge bench of Supreme Court of India had acquitted Bhullar”.
This is another major attack on Sikhs: Panch Pardhani
Akali Dal Panch Pardhani
Akali Dal Panch Pardhani, led by Bhai Kulvir Singh Barapind who is confined in Maximum Security Jail, Nabha has also issued a resentment on the decision of India’ Supreme Court on Prof. Bhullar’s Case. Bhai Harpal Singh Cheema, acting President of ADPP told Sikh Siyasat News (SSN) that “This decision has reaffirmed that there is still no justice for Sikhs in India.”
“This is another major attack on Sikhs”, he said, while adding that the decision has showed that Sikhs are treated like ‘slaves’ in India.
He said that it was unfortunate that the Supreme Court of India had ignored the calls of various various states – including the United Kingdom, German and New Zealand; international Human Rights organizations – such as Amnesty International, to uphold the values of justice.
It’s Shocking and Disturbing for People of Punjab: Dal Khalsa
Dal Khalsa
In a written statement sent to Sikh Siyasat News (SSN) the Sikh organization Dal Khalsa has termed the dismissal of petition of Prof Bhullar as ‘shocking and disturbing for people of Punjab in general and Sikh community in particular’.
“The decision is travesty of justice as Prof Bhullar is on death row since 18 years. Secondly he was given punishment on the basis of confessional statement taken by police officer under torture. Thirdly, it was a split verdict, Chief Justice acquitted him. Fourthly, he was deported from Germany, where capital punishment is not given” Dal Khalsa spokesperson Kanwarpal Singh told Sikh Siyasat News (SSN).
“In the wake of hanging of Afzal Guru, the Jammu and Kashmir chief minister taking a jibe at Indian state said in public that the state is selective in the case of death convicts, the Sikhs were apprehending that the next target will be a Sikh. With today’s SC decision, our fears might come true,” he added.
Proves that Sikhs are Slaves in India: United Khalsa Dal
In a written statement sent to Sikh Siyasat News (SSN), the United Khalsa Dal (UK) has opined that the decision of Indian Supreme Court confirming death sentence of Professor Devender Pal Singh Bhullar proves that Sikhs are slaves in India.
UKD President S. Nirmal Singh Sandhu and General Secretary Loveshinder Singh Dallewal said: “This decision proves that the death penalty in India is being used as a tool of political control against religious or ethnic minorities, Dalits and struggling nations”.