New Delhi, India: The Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) has urged India’s ministry of Law and Justice to release of Sikhs languishing in jails despite having completed their jail terms.
“A large number of Sikhs who have completed their jail terms years ago, are still languishing in the jails. Sadly, these Sikhs are also denied the right to get parole to attend deaths and weddings of their close family members,” demanded DSGMC president Manjit Singh GK in a letter to D.V. Sadananda Gowda, Minister of Law and Justice, Government of India.
“People of different religions and communities need to be treated at-par at time of justice delivery and discrimination of Sikhs in the judicial system should be stopped and flaws in the judicial system be plugged by way amendments if required,” he wrote.
It was interesting to note that Manjit Singh G.K.’s statement seeking release of ‘Sikhs languishing in jails’ did not use term ‘Sikh Political Prisoners’. Moreover, DSGMC president did not make any mention of Gurbaksh Singh Khalsa’s continuing hunger strike seeking release of Sikh political prisoners.
While referring to the parole granted to Balwan Khokhar who was convicted for life term in May 2013, for his involvement in Sikh genocide of 1984, on 26, November 2014, 18 months after he was convicted, Manjit Singh GK called it double standards on the part of Indian justice delivery system. He said the move was “atrocious and unwarranted” and like rubbing salt into the wounds of Sikh community.