Government of India should complete announcement of release of Sikh prisoners: S. Harjinder Singh Dhami
Strongly condemns printing of cigarette advertisement on parsad packets at Gurdwara Sri Kartarpur Sahib
Meeting of Dharam Prachar Committee chaired by Advocate Harjinder Singh Dhami
Amritsar, December 18:
A meeting of the Dharam Prachar Committee (DPC) chaired by Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) President S. Harjinder Singh Dhami demanded from the Government of India to release Bhai Balwant Singh Rajoana, Prof Devinderpal Singh Bhullar and other Sikh prisoners.
Speaking at a press conference after the meeting at SGPC office on Saturday, S. Harjinder Singh Dhami said that the Government of India had announced release of Sikh prisoners on the occasion of 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev Ji but the government has not implemented its decision till date.
He said that an appeal was filed by the SGPC in the Supreme Court in September 2020 for commutation of the death sentence of Bhai Balwant Singh Rajoana, and the apex court had ordered the Centre government in December 2020, to take a decision in the regard at the earliest.
“Due to the government’s delay, the Supreme Court had given the time of two weeks in January 2021, while in February 2021, the government had asked for another six weeks. Despite the lapse of almost one year, the government has not been able to take a decision yet”, said S. Harjinder Singh.
“Letters have already been written to the home minister in this regard. I have written a letter again seeking time to meet the home minister with the SGPC delegation. During the meeting with the home minister, the release of Bhai Balwant Singh Rajoana, Prof Devinderpal Singh Bhullar and other Sikh prisoners will be discussed along with other Sikh issues”, said S. Harjinder Singh.
SGPC President also said that the booklet released by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi at the inauguration of Vishwanath Dham Corridor recently distorted the Sikh history and the SGPC had raised an objection to the same.
“According to the information received from the Uttar Pradesh government, some parts of this booklet have been removed. In today’s meeting a demand has been made to withdraw the booklet”, said S. Harjinder Singh.
SGPC President has strongly condemned the printing of cigarette advertisements on the packets of parsad given to the Sangat at Gurdwara Sri Kartarpur Sahib in Pakistan.
“This incident has deeply hurt the minds of Sikh pilgrims and Sangat. The President of Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee and the Government of Pakistan should take stern action against the culprits”, said S. Harjinder Singh.
Discussions were held in the meeting to expedite the Dharam Prachar (religious preaching) campaign and the work of various departments of DPC was approved.
Those present in the meeting included DPC members Bhai Ajaib Singh Abhayasi, S. Sukhwarsh Singh Pannu, S. Avtar Singh Vanwala, S. Manjit Singh Bappiana, S. Rampal Singh Bahiniwal, SGPC executive committee member S. Gurinderpal Singh Gora, secretary Mahinder Singh Ahli, OSD to SGPC President S. Satbir Singh Dhami, additional secretary S. Partap Singh, S. Sukhminder Singh, assistant secretary S. Simarjit Singh Kang, S. Tejinder Singh Padda, and superintendent S. Malkit Singh Beharwal.