Jalandhar/ Ludhiana: Slamming Central as well as state government for taking the issue of release of political prisoners lightly, the Sikh bodies under the banner of Bandi Singhs Rihai Sangharsh Committee today blocked the rail traffic for two hours and vowed to step up its activities in case government won’t set free those prisoners who have completed maximum term in prison.
The groups that joined hands to spearhead the campaign for release of prisoners include Dal Khalsa, Shiromani Akali Dal Mann, Panch Pardani, United Akali dal, Damdami Taksal Ajnala, Sikh youth of Punjab, and Akand Kirtani Jatha.
Today’s rail roko call was given by the Sangharsh Committee to support the cause of Bapu Surat Singh, who is on hunger strike since Jan 16 seeking release of prisoners who have completed their prison term.
The Sikh activists in hundreds led by Manjinder Singh Jandi, Bhai Amrik Singh Ajnala, Gurdeep Singh Bhatinda, Jaskaran Singh Kahan Singh Wala, Bhai Mohkam Singh, Sukhwinder Singh and Baldev Singh blocked Delhi-Amritsar rail marg and staged dharna for two hours that led to delay of trains. The protestors sat at Jalandhar railway station and urged the govt to act swiftly and positively. They were of the view that govt was not serious and was paying only lip service to please the masses. The protest passed off peacefully. In the morning, police detained some youth at different nakas preventing them to reach at venue of protest. However they were released when leaders refused to end the blockade,
In a written statement send to the Sikh Siyasat News Dal khalsa leader Dr Manjinder Singh said that the issue of release of political prisoners has been prolonged. It’s mainly because political as well as police leadership has nurtured hatred and grudges against these detainees, who remained part of Sikh struggle.
He said “of late, the Supreme Court of India has put a bar on the state governments to pardon and release lifers who have undergone their term, thus putting the federal rights of states to release political prisoners and the fundamental universal right of political prisoners to be released in reasonable time on hold.
Bapu Surat Singh is on fast unto death since Jan 16 seeking the release of Sikh detainees who have served their mandatory jail terms.