New Delhi, India: A Sikh delegation comprising Giani Mal Singh (Jathedar of Takht Kesgarh Sahib), Damdami Taksal chief Baba Harnam Singh Dumma, DSGMC president Manjit Singh GK, Sikh Council UK special representative Inderjit Singh and others today met Indian Home Minister Rajnath Singh.
Baba Sukhchain Singh General Secretary Sant Samaj, Bhai Jasbir Singh Khalsa, Baba Charanjit Singh, and Jaspal Singh Sidhu Chairman Supreme Council of Mumbai Gurdwaras were also part of the delegation.
The delegation handed over a memorandum to Indian home minister seeking release of Sikh political prisoners whose release is being demanded by Gurbaksh Singh Khalsa who remains on hunger strike since November 14 at Gurdwara Lakhnaur Sahib, Ambala.
The delegation also sought amendment in Article 25 of the Constitution of India to recognize separate Sikh identity. The delegation members said that Sikhs have been wrongly mentioned as Hindus and an amendment was necessary in Article 25 of Indian Constitution to recognize separate Sikh identity.
Delegation members Manjit Singh GK, President of Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management committee (DSGMC) and Manjinder Singh Sirsa General Secretary of DSGMC demanded removal of names of Sikhs residing in foreign countries from ‘blacklist’ of Indian home ministries so that they could visit their families in Punjab and elsewhere in India.
A release by the Sikh Coalition says Indian Home Minister Rajnath Singh accepted the memorandum and in discussions agreed to meet and discuss the cases with relevant officials. He confirmed to those present he will deliver a decision tomorrow.