Gurbaksh Singh Khalsa finishes off his hunger strike; Drinks fruit juice on assurance by DSGMC

Ambala: Sikh activist Gurbaksh Singh who observed hunger strike from November 14, 2014 till January 09, 2015, formally finished off his hunger strike yesterday (Jan. 15) after taking a glass of fruit juice from the hands of some Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) officials.

After finishing off his hunger strike Gurbaksh Singh came out of civil hospital of Ambala where he was undergoing medical treatment since Jan. 09 on wheel chair. He was accompanied by DSGMC officials. In a brief statement before the media Gurbaksh Singh Khalsa said that he finished off his hunger strike on as per directions of DSGMC, Sant Samaj and some family members of the Sikh political prisoners for whose release he had started hunger strike. He did not reply to any media queries and left for his native place Thaska Ali near Kurkshetra in Haryana.

Gurbaksh Singh Khalsa being brought out of Civil Hospital of Ambala [Jan. 15, 2015]

Gurbaksh Singh had observed 44 days long hunger strike in November-December 2013. He had declared to “lay down his life” if the government fails to permanently release six Sikh political prisoners jailed in various jails in Indian subcontinent. But he had finished off his hunger strike on December 25 on the “assurance” of Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh to pursue the cases of concerned Sikh prisoners for permanent release.

Gurbaksh Singh Khalsa started his hunger strike for the second time on November 14, 2014. He bitterly criticized Giani Gurbachan Singh for not keeping his promise and declared that he would prefer to die if seven Sikh political prisoners, who have completed their sentenced are not granted premature release.

Rashtriya Sikh Sangat (RSS), a controversial wing of Hindutva fountainhead Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS), and Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) initially supported Gurbaksh Singh’s hunger strike but retracted afterwards.

Gurbaksh Singh Khalsa volunteered to undergo medical treatment on January 09 and formally ended his hunger strike on January 14. Gurbaksh Singh Khalsa said that he adhered to directions of “Panj Pyare” to end his hunger strike.

DSGMC official Samardeep Singh Sunny said that with the “efforts” of Sant Samaj and DSGMC chief Manjit Singh GK, the office of Indian prime minister and Indian home minister had given “assurance” on the issue of Sikh political prisoners, as a result Gurbaksh Singh Khalsa decided to end his hunger strike.