Hardeep Singh

CHANDIGARH April 8, 2024 Once again government of India-administered Punjab debarred Sikhs from taking out ‘Khalsa Chetna March’ (Sikh awakening procession) from Takht Sri Damdama Sahib, Talwandi Sabo, Bathinda to Sri Akal Takht Sahib, Amritsar, for seeking shifting of Sikh detenues from Dibrugarh jail of Assam to Punjab and release of other Sikh political prisoners lodged in various Indian jails.

The procession was scheduled to be flagged off from Takht Sri Damdama Sahib on Monday. The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) was to organize this procession under the leadership of the three-member committee constituted by Akal Takht Sahib jathedar Giani Raghbir Singh.

However, a day before, the Punjab Police launched crackdown against the Sikh leaders and family members of the Sikh detainees lodged to Dibrugarh jail under the contentious law of National Security Act (NSA).

On Sunday, Waris Punjab De (WPD) chief Bhai Amritpal Singh’s mother Balwinder Kaur, his uncle Sukhchain Singh and other relatives left for Takht Damdama Sahib to take party in the procession from Amritsar. As they left from Amritsar, the Police arrested them. Many other Sikh leaders including Paramjit Singh Akali, Jaskaran Singh Kahan Singh Wala were put under house arrest.

Family members of Bhai Amritpal Singh, one of Dibrugarh NSA detainees, were sent to judicial custody for four days, said a Police officials, who cited that Bathinda administration had not granted any permission for organising the march as “it could foment law and order problem”. The Sikh leaders said it was purely a religious march and “law and order” concern is just an excuse to debar the Sikhs from exercise their fundamental and democratic rights.

On the other hand, Talwandi Sabo town was turned into fortress to prevent gathering of Sikh sangat (community) in wake of the March. The cops harassed the Sikhs coming to Talwandi Sabo to pay obeisance at Takht, one of the five Sikh temporal seats.

Keeping in view of the crackdown and undeclared restrictions imposed by the government, the SGPC postponed the March, said SGPC member Advocate Bhagwant Singh Sialka, one of the members of the committee constituted by Akal Takht Sahib, highest Sikh temporal seat.

Under the banner of Waris Punjab De, Bhai Amritpal Singh and his aides were carrying out drive in Punjab against the drug de-addiction and spreading the Sikh ethos. He was gaining unprecedented popularity in the Sikh community. Apart from this, he also sympathised with the Khalistan, sovereign Sikh state. To contain his activities, the Indian State launched a special operation in Punjab to nab him, his aides and other pro-freedom Sikh activists in Punjab.

The NSA was invoked against Amritpal Singh and his nine aides and they were sent to far distant Dibrugarh jail of Assam a year ago. In the jail, they are being harassed and their human rights are being violated, as per their kin and lawyers. So, the demand for bringing them back to Punjab is growing in the state. A hunger strike is also being observed at the heritage street near Sri Darbar Sahib (Golden Temple) Amritsar by the kin of the detenues to raise the demand. However, the government is paying no heed toward their stir. Instead, NSA was extended for one a year more.

Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Raghbir Singh and Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee have condemned the action against Amritpal’s family members and other Sikh leaders. The SGPC termed it the violation of human rights. Senior Akali leader Virsa Singh Valtoha also condemned their detention.

@satlujnetwork