Sri Amritsar- Jathedar of Sri Akal Takht Sahib, Giani Kuldip Singh Gargajj, has termed it unfortunate that the BJP-led Delhi government has rejected the petition seeking the release of Sikh prisoner Prof. Devenderpal Singh Bhullar. He said that recently Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, Cabinet Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa, and other ministers had met him at the Secretariat of Sri Akal Takht Sahib, during which he had asked the Chief Minister to ensure the release of Prof. Bhullar when they asked him for some service.
He stated that earlier, for ten years, the Aam Aadmi Party government led by Arvind Kejriwal in Delhi had kept the matter of Prof. Bhullar’s release pending and failed to respect Sikh sentiments. He added that now, after the change of government in Delhi with the BJP coming to power, the government’s Sentence Review Board considered the cases of release of a total of 51 prisoners, out of which 24 cases were rejected while 27 were approved. He said that if the government can decide to release other prisoners, then, if it so desires, it can also release Prof. Bhullar.
Jathedar Giani Kuldip Singh Gargajj said that viewing Prof. Bhullar’s case from the perspective of humanity and compassion, the government should respect the sentiments of the entire Sikh community and release him permanently, as he has already completed his sentence. He said that this responsibility now rests solely with the Delhi government, and keeping in view the contribution of Sikhs to the nation, the government should sign Prof. Bhullar’s file and ensure his release. He added that if the country today enjoys the fruits of freedom, Sikhs have made the greatest contribution to it, and whenever any difficulty arises, Sikhs are always at the forefront in service. The government should address every such issue concerning Sikhs with seriousness.
Jathedar Giani Kuldip Singh Gargajj appealed to the entire Sikh community to continue raising its voice peacefully for the release of Bandi Singhs and to ensure that the entire Khalsa Panth remains united and works collectively on this issue.