Chandigarh: A Ludhiana based Sikh lawyer and activist Advocate Jaspal Singh Manjhpur has shot an ‘Open Letter’ to Punjab chief minister Parkash Singh Badal on Sikh Political prisoners’ issue. While welcoming Parkash Singh Badal’s statement seeking release of 13 Sikh political prisoners convicted under infamous TADA law, Advocate Jaspal Singh Manjhpur raised a question that why Badal’s own government is opposing release of four such prisoners, who are confined in Punjab’s jails.
In his letter, Advocate Jaspal Singh Manjhpur said that two Sikh prisoners Bhai Hardeep Singh and Bhai Baaz Singh are confined in Amritsar Jail under TADA since 1993 and two others namely Dilbagh Singh and Swaran Singh are confined in Nabha jail. Their cases fall under the jurisdiction of Punjab government and they are also confided in jails in Punjab.
Advocate Manjhpur revealed that Badal government denied benefits of premature release to these prisoners to Bhai Hardeep Singh Baaz Singh despite a Punjab and Haryana High Court order in this regard.
“Mr. Chief Minister, your government is opposing release of Bhai Dilbagh Singh and Swaran Singh citing perceived threat to ‘law and order situation’.”, Advoate Manjhpur wrote in his open letter.