Chandigarh/ Ambala: Bhai Gurbaksh Singh Khalsa who has been on continues hunger since November 14, 2014 is surviving only on water for last 53 days. He is seeking permanent release of 7 Sikh political prisoners namely Bhai Gurmeet Singh, Lakhwinder Singh, Shamsher Singh, Lal Singh, Wariam Singh, Gurdeep Singh Khera and Prof. Devender Pal Singh Bhullar.
He had stopped drinking water on January 03 after the government of India, Punjab and other states did not respond to his ultimatum demanding permanent release of concerned Sikh political prisoners before 2nd January (2015).
Gurbaksh Singh’s press secretary Gurpreet Singh Guri Hans said that global Sikh sangat was concerned about well being of Gurbaksh Singh Khalsa after he stopped drinking water. “The Sikh sangat asked Bhai Khalsa to resume drinking water, and Bhai Khalsa left it to the will of Sangat and the Guru Sahib on this point” Guri Hans added.
“We placed two slips – one with text ‘resume drinking water’ and other with ‘do not resume drinking water’, before Guru Granth Sahib Ji and an ardas was performed. A child picked up one of the two slips. It was with text ‘resume drinking water’. So, taking it as command of Sangat and the Guru Sahib Bhai Gurbaksh Singh Khalsa resumed water” said Gurpreet Singh Guri Hans.
Meanwhile, there has been much exercise in terms of meetings between Sikh delegations and Indian government officials; and also in terms of media statements, but anything concrete is yet to come out.
Meanwhile, Shiromani Gurdwara Prabhandak Committee (SGPC) has written letters to Chief Ministers of various states of Indian subcontinent to grant premature release to Sikh political prisoners who have completed terms of their sentences.