- SGPC President Advocate Dhami hands over memorandum demanding release of Sikh prisoners
Amritsar: Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) President Advocate Harjinder Singh Dhami today handed over a memorandum letter to Vice President (VP) of India Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar, demanding release of Bandi Singhs (Sikh political prisoners).
VP Jagdeep Dhankhar today reached here along with family to pay obeisance at Sachkhand Sri Harmandar Sahib, and expressed his devotion.
In his letter, Advocate Dhami said Sikh prisoners are lodged in different Indian jails for nearly three decades despite completion of their sentences, which is a big injustice with the Sikh community. He said imprisoned Sikhs chose the path of struggle in 1984 in protest against the military attack on Central Sikh shrine Sachkhand Sri Harmandar Sahib and Sri Akal Takht Sahib in Amritsar, named as Operation Bluestar by the then Congress government.
He said SGPC had been demanding release of Sikh prisoners through democratic means for a long time.
Advocate Dhami said that on the issue of Sikh prisoners, the SGPC had also sent letters seeking appointments of meetings to the Prime Minister of India, Home Minister of India, Chief Ministers of Delhi and Karnataka states, but the Sikh body did not receive any positive response.
He said that it is being felt that by not releasing the Sikh prisoners, they are being discriminated against, as they have already served double sentences than life imprisonments.
SGPC President demanded from the Vice President to take cognizance of this important issue of release of Sikh prisoners and issue necessary directions to the Government of India and concerned State Governments for their release.
Meanwhile, the Vice President assured the SGPC President to take up this issue.
On this occasion, VP Jagdeep Dhankar said, “Blessed to have visited Darbar Sahib today. The peace, serenity, devotion and sense of service here is an unforgettable experience. A glowing symbol of the sublime spiritual tradition of our great Gurus, Harmandar Sahib has been emanating the message of love, humanity, compassion and brotherhood through ages. My tributes to our Gurus and their eternal message to serve humanity.”
Earlier, during his visit VP Dhankar had langar (food from community kitchen) and did voluntary service of washing dishes at Langar Guru Ramdas Ji. The VP also listened to divine Gurbani Kirtan for sometime inside the sanctum sanctorum of Sri Harmandar Sahib.
During the circumambulation at Sri Darbar Sahib, the VP was given information about the history of the shrine by information officer Jaswinder Singh Jassi and he showed his interest.
Meanwhile, at the information center, SGPC President Advocate Harjinder Singh Dhami honoured VP Jagdeep Dhankar with Siropao, model of Sri Harmandar Sahib and literature.
Present on this occasion included SGPC executive member Sarvan Singh Kular, Union Minister of State Som Prakash, SGPC secretary Partap Singh, additional secretary Kulwinder Singh Ramdas, Balwinder Singh Kahlwan, manager Sulkhan Singh Bhangali, information officer Jaswinder Singh Jassi, Harinder Singh Romy, Amritpal Singh, Punjab cabinet minister of Punjab Laljit Singh Bhullar, former MP Shwait Malik, Amritsar Deputy Commissioner Harpreet Singh Sudan, Amritsar Police Commissioner Arun Pal Singh, DCP Parminder Singh Bhandal and other key officials.