Campaign started in 25 Gurdwaras including Sachkhand Sri Harmandar Sahib
People from across world will be part of SGPC’s signature campaign through online medium: Harjinder Singh Dhami
Amritsar, December 1-
The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) has today launched a large-scale signature campaign for the release of Bandi Singhs (Sikh political prisoners) and has announced that it will be taken throughout the country in a few days and to the world level through an online medium.
Today, as part of this campaign, centers were established in around 25 Gurdwaras of Punjab and Haryana, including Sachkhand Sri Harmandar Sahib, Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib and Takht Sri Damdama Sahib, and the process of filling proforma from the Sangat was started. In Amritsar, the signature campaign was started from a center set up near Sri Guru Ramdas Ji Niwas (inn) at Sri Harmandar Sahib by SGPC President Harjinder Singh Dhami after Ardas (Sikh prayer), while SGPC members were also present on this occasion.
Talking to the media, SGPC President Harjinder Singh Dhami said that the release of Sikh prisoners who have completed their sentences is a very important issue of the Sikh community, for which the signature campaign to create a mass movement will prove to be decisive. He said that the SGPC has been raising its voice for the release of Sikh prisoners for a long time and under this, efforts have been made at all levels along with legal remedies.
“The negative attitude adopted by the governments in this regard is a great injustice to the Sikh community. Despite great sacrifices made by the Sikh community for the country, they have to struggle for their rights. Biased policy of the governments in the case of Sikh prisoners is clearly visible and they are not being released in deliberate violation of human rights”, said Harjinder Singh Dhami.
He said that in continuation of the efforts made by the SGPC in the past, the signature campaign has been started and it is hoped that this will open the closed ears of the governments.
SGPC President said that the campaign has been started from 25 Gurdwaras simultaneously today and in the next few days, it will be taken to different states in India through SGPC’s Sikh missions. He said that though it was decided to start it as a nationwide campaign, as per sentiments of the Sangat, its reach will now be made across the world with digital mediums. He also said that the proformas to be filled under the signature campaign will also be printed in Hindi and English languages, so that people from states outside Punjab can understand this cause closely and participate in it. He said that a special online Google form has been prepared to connect people from abroad with this signature campaign, for filling which a link will be provided on the SGPC’s website and social media platforms.
Meanwhile, Harjinder Singh Dhami also announced a committee of legal experts for the release of the Sikh prisoners. He said that along with creating a mass movement, there will be no slack in legal proceedings. A four-member panel of lawyers will work on this issue including senior lawyer Advocate Puran Singh Hundal, Advocate Paramjit Singh Thiara, Advocate Baldev Singh Dhillon and Advocate Bhagwant Singh Sialka. He said that there will be alternatives to include other eminent lawyers in this panel also.
SGPC President appealed to all organisations fighting for human rights as well as Sikh organisations and sabha societies and Sangat to be part of this signature campaign for the release of Sikh prisoners.
Present on this occasion included SGPC executive member Bawa Singh Gumanpura, Sher Singh Mandwala, members Bhagwant Singh Sialka, Bhai Ram Singh, Harjap Singh Sultanwind, Mangwinder Singh Khaparkheri, Amarjit Singh Bandala, Baljit Singh Jalal Usma, Amrik Singh Vichhoa, Amarjit Singh Bhaliapur, Bhai Ajaib Singh Abhyasi, SGPC secretary Partap Singh, OSD Satbir Singh Dhami, additional secretary Balwinder Singh Kahlwan, manager Satnam Singh Mangasarai, Sukhraj Singh, Harpreet Singh, in-charge Shahbaz Singh, superintendent Malkit Singh Beharwal, and additional manager Nishan Singh.