SGPC to give Rs 20,000 per month honorarium to 9 Bandi Singhs serving long sentences -Issue of Sikh prisoners to be taken up to UNO & International Court of Justice
–SGPC decides to file writ petition against government’s patronage of Ram Rahim
Amritsar : The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) has decided to give Rs 20,000 per month as honorarium to 9 Bandi Singhs (Sikh prisoners) serving long sentences in different jails of the country. A decision has also been made to take up the issue of non-release of Sikh prisoners despite completion of their jail terms to the United Nations Organization (UNO) and the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
Speaking to the media after the meeting of the SGPC Executive Committee (EC) at SGPC office on Friday in Amritsar, SGPC President Harjinder Singh Dhami said that the government’s injustice towards the Sikhs who have served jail terms for three decades is a major violation of human rights, and this voice will now be raised on the international platforms. He said that the EC has decided to give monthly honorarium of Rs 20,000 to 9 Sikh prisoners who have served long sentences and legal assistance as required. The 9 Sikh prisoners include Bhai Gurdeep Singh Khera, Prof Devinderpal Singh Bhullar, Bhai Balwant Singh Rajoana, Bhai Jagtar Singh Hawara, Bhai Jagtar Singh Tara, Bhai Lakhwinder Singh Lakha, Bhai Gurmeet Singh, Bhai Shamsher Singh and Bhai Paramjit Singh Bheora. He said among them, Bhai Rajoana is already being given this honorarium.
Dhami said that since 1984, the SGPC has firmly stood with the struggling Sikhs and is committed to continue in future too. He informed that the signature campaign started by the SGPC for the release of Sikh prisoners will be intensified and Sikh jathebandis, educational institutions, Singh Sabhas and people working for human rights will be taken along and this campaign will be taken from door to door.
He said that the struggle for the release of Sikh prisoners will be fought at all levels and the governments will have to back down to the voice of Sikh community. SGPC President also said that for the legal remedies in this regard, a 6-member Legal Advisory Board has been constituted comprising advocates Puran Singh Hundal, Paramjit Singh Thiara, Baltej Singh Dhillon, Bhagwant Singh Sialka, Amarjit Singh Dharni and Arshdeep Singh Kaler, which will function to provide legal assistance to the families of Sikh prisoners.
SGPC President said the EC has also decided to file a writ petition in the High Court against Dera Sirsa head Gurmeet Ram Rahim, who is convicted for murders and rapes, taking strict notice of the government patronage being given to him. He said that inviting Ram Rahim, who is a criminal on parole, as a state guest by Haryana government is a big insult to the judiciary and at the same time giving him repeated paroles and waiving the sentence of 90 days is not acceptable in the civilized society. He said that the court proceedings against Ram Rahim in sacrilege cases are in process, so the possibility of him coming out and affecting these sensitive cases cannot be ruled out. He said that the SGPC will file a writ petition in the High Court on this serious matter and if necessary, the Supreme Court will also be approached.
About other EC decisions, Harjinder Singh Dhami said that in view of the Panthic services of Maharaja Ripudaman Singh Nabha, his portrait will be displayed in the Central Sikh Museum. He said Maharaja Nabha supported the Gurdwara Reform Movement and also contributed significantly in getting the Anand Marriage Act passed in 1909. Along with this, when the Saka (massacre) of Sri Nankana Sahib happened, Maharaja Nabha also actively participated in protests of tying black turbans on the call of SGPC. He said approval was also given to display a portrait of Baba Chanda Singh Kattu Wale at Central Sikh Museum, who contributed significantly to preaching Sikh faith.
He said the SGPC will also conduct an effective campaign for environment protection. He said that heritage forests have already been established in one acre land of different Gurdwara Sahibs under SGPC management. Taking this campaign forward, it has now been decided to plant trees in every educational institution and Gurdwara Sahibs under SGPC. Along with this, booklets will be prepared and distributed in lakhs to spread awareness about clean soil, air and water.
