CHANDIGARH, Punjab—Advocate Amar Singh Chahal and Prof. Baljinder Singh Morjand, who represent the committee constituted by Akal Takht Jathedar Jagtar Singh Hawara, have written letters to the Chief Ministers of Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan seeking immediate release of political Sikh prisoners on humanitarian grounds in the wake of coronavirus outbreak. A copy of this letter has also been sent to the Punjab Governor V.P Singh Badnore.
Citing the good track record of political Sikh prisoners who are coming out on parole for the last few years, the duo leaders have said that most of these Sikh prisoners have served mandatory terms of their life imprisonments.
They have also expressed fear that the coronavirus outbreak can affect the physical well-being of these Sikh prisoners.
“The families of these Sikh prisoners were quite keen worried about their physical well-being due to coronavirus outbreak in India,” they added.
It is pertinent to note here that the Punjab government has started releasing prisoners on parole due to coronavirus outbreak. Hundreds of prisoners have been released on parole in Punjab during the past two or three days as per the directions of Supreme Court.
Meanwhile, the Punjab Jail Minister Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa has said that the prisoners were being released only as per the directions of the Supreme Court of India.
“The Punjab government is a custodian of political Sikh prisoners and only Union government of India or Supreme Court can take any decision in this regard,” he informed while adding that the Punjab government has not received any direction in this regard.Â
