Political News

Saffron U-turn: Now Punjab BJP opposes release of Sikh Political Prisoners

January 10, 2015 | By Sikh Siyasat Bureau

Jalandhar: Punjab’s BJP leaders have opposed the premature release of Sikh political prisoners serving life term. With a clear announcement in this regard the saffron party has departed it’s ways from its ally Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal). SAD (B) has been urging other states and the central government of India to release certain Sikh political prisoners on humanitarian grounds.

A day after BJP’s India chief Amit Shah opposed the release of Sikh political prisoners, saffron party’s state chief Kamal Sharma said, “Our stand is very clear. We are against their release as they were convicted and sentenced in ‘terror’ cases.”

He was addressing media after presiding over the state executive committee meeting in Phagwara on Friday (Jan. 09).

This is the first time that Punjab BJP has taken a clear stand against the demand as some of its own leaders were supporting activist Gurbaksh Singh Khalsa who is on hunger strike on the issue near Ambala.

On Thursday, a delegation led by SAD (Badal) president and Punjab deputy CM Sukhbir Badal had met Union home minister Rajnath Singh demanding release of the Sikh prisoners. BJP spokesperson R P Singh Maini and BJP All India Kisan Morcha national secretary S P S Grewal had met Khalsa at his hunger strike venue and extended support to his cause. Rashtriya Sikh Sangat (RSS) Chief Gurcharan Singh Gill had also favored release of Sikh prisoners.

On the issue of premature release of Sikh Political prisoners Gurcharan Singh Gill had told media that: “Apart from the names of seven life-term prisoners Gurbaksh Singh Khalsa gave to RSS, we have identified more. We will take up the matter of release of 15 prisoners with Home Minister Rajnath Singh”.

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Related Topics: BJP, Kamal Sharma, Punjab Politics, Sikh Political Prisoners

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