Driving Naari Programme launched in Chandigarh
Chandigarh, Sukhpal Singh Khaira Spokesperson and Harminder Gill General Secretary PPCC, today met Bhai Gurbaksh Singh near Ambala who is in his 55th day of hunger strike. They expressed solidarity with his mission to seek release of Sikh prisoners languishing in jails, despite having completed their sentences. They questioned the double standards of Mr. Badal over the release of Sikh prisoners by arguing that if a police cat and a murder convict like Gurmeet alias Pinky can be released pre maturely through a cabinet decision by his government, why is Mr. Badal dragging his feet on the release of 96 prisoners languishing in the jails of Punjab, as per the list released by SGPC recently.
In a press statement Sukhpal Singh Khaira Said, As we are aware, the SGPC has released a list of 119 Sikh prisoners languishing in different jails of the country, despite completion of their sentences. Of these 96 Sikh prisoners are languishing in different jails of Punjab itself.
Congress dares the Badal duo to explain how and why Gurmeet Singh alias Pinky, a terrorist turned cat turned police officer was pre maturely released from the jail recently? The said Pinky had been sentenced to life for an innocent boy’s broadaylight murder at Ludhiana few years back. The said remittance of sentence to this cat turned police officer was granted by the Badal cabinet on the recommendations of Mr. Sumedh Saini DGP Punjab, mentor of cat Pinky. he added
This grave issue has been taken up by Bhai Gurbaksh Singh, who has entered into 55th day of his fast unto death seeking the release of Sikh prisoners. During a similar fast kept by him last year at Gurudwara Amb Sahib Mohali, the Jathedar Akal Takhat had publically promised to take up the issue of release of Sikh prisoners with the Badal government. Despite this assurance, no tangible solution was found forcing Bhai Gurbaksh Singh to resort to his present second fast unto death. This time too, the Jathedar Akal Takhat Sahib and the President SGPC have promised to ensure the release of Sikh prisoners by taking up the matter with the Badal government, other states governments and the central government. But unfortunately the Badal duo have refused to acknowledge the appeals of not only Bhai Gurbaksh Singh, but also the Jathedar Akal Takhat Sahib and the President of SGPC. The Badal duo is not only dillydallying the serious issue of release of Sikh prisoners from Punjab jails, but has also denied an honourable place to Bhai Gurbaksh Singh to sit on a fast in the state of Punjab, forcing him to take refuge in a Haryana Gurudwara. he added
The callous and non serious attitude of the Badal duo over this serious matter concerning the Sikh community clearly exposes their double standards and dichotomy, as they never leave a stone unturned to whip up Sikh sentiments and passions for their cheap political gains. The Jathedar Akal Takhat and the President SGPC are urged to first pressurise the so called Panthic Akali government, to ensure the release of 96 Sikh prisoners languishing in different jails of the state, before taking up the release of Sikh detunes with other states governments and the central government.
Needless to mention, that the release of Sikh prisoners from Punjab jails is specifically a state subject and under the command of the Badal government. Thus, the Badal duo cannot escape responsibility by passing on the buck to the central government, as the Punjab Prisoners Act, 1926 entitles them to order the release of said Sikh prisoners from the jails of state. he added
Therefore, the Congress warns the Badal duo to stop playing cheap political games on the sensational issue of release of Sikh prisoners from the Punjab jails. They should explain legal impediment if any, because if state can release terrorist turned cat turned police officer Pinky, what prevents them from releasing those who have already completed the sentences? he asked
