Sikh community annoyed by repeated paroles to Gurmeet Ram Rahim | Ground Report

By Manjeet Sehgal: The frequent paroles awarded to the rape and murder convict Dera chief, Gurmeet Ram Rahim, has left the entire Sikh community fuming, particularly when hundreds of Sikh activists are on the roads over the past month demanding the release of over 20 Sikh prisoners languishing in jails despite having completed their sentences.

While the Shiromani Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC) and the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) have been running a campaign to secure the release of the Sikh prisoners for the last two years, the Quami Insaf Morcha, a group of Sikh organisations including farmer unions, is running a permanent sit-in agitation on the Chandigarh-Mohali border for a month now.

India Today TV spoke to a section of protesters who called these frequent paroles to the Dera chief an insult to the judiciary and the denial of constitutional rights to the Sikh prisoners.

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“There is ambiguity. The rapist and murderer got parole as much as five times and that, too, for over a month. While many Sikh prisoners were denied parole, those given were asked to return within hours and were in chains. We are not drug addicts. We are awakened and will not leave till they are released," Kamalpreet Singh Khalsa of the Tarna Dal said.

Khalsa also sought a clarification from the government on why the Sikh prisoners have been languishing in jails for the past 20 to 30 years despite having completed their sentences.

"When the country has one Constitution, why differences are being created among communities?" Kamalpreet asked.

Another protester, Harnek Singh, who hails from Kapurthala and represents the Gurudwara Sri Hargobind Sahib Ji, said, "The frequent paroles to the Dera chief blatantly say that he is very special to the government. Why was the government hesitating to release the Sikh prisoners when they had completed their punishment? It seems the Constitution is just for saying."

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Farmer union BKU Ekta Sidhupur Fazilka’s district president Pargat Singh said they have extended their support to the Quami Insaf Morcha as the step-motherly treatment to the Sikh prisoners has shaken the entire community.

"They (Sikh prisoners) were convicted and were awarded punishment, which is over. Then why were they being denied their rights? They should be released immediately. This is our primary demand," Pargat Singh said.

AKALI DAL-BJP LOCK HORNS OVER FREQUENT PAROLES TO GURMEET RAM RAHIM

The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) ,which has been demanding the release of Sikh prisoners, said that the frequent paroles to the Dera chief have not only sent a wrong message among the Sikh community but also to the people of other faiths who have daughters. He accused the Haryana government of bending the laws to facilitate the Dera chief.

"The person (Dera Chief) who has been convicted of rape and murder is being given special treatment by the Haryana and Punjab governments. This is an insult to the judiciary. This has not only angered the Sikh community but also the people of other religions who have daughters," Dr Daljit Singh Cheema, the party’s spokesperson, said.

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Reacting to the allegations levelled by the Akali Dal, Haryana BJP spokesperson Praveen Attrey said the paroles to Dera chief were being given as per the jail manual and by following all procedures.

"As far as the issue of Sikh prisoners is concerned, the same was raised by Sikh organisations in 2019 with the Union government. In October 2019, the Centre issued a notification and nine Sikh prisoners were released. The Union government also pursued the case with the Supreme Court. Balwant Singh Rajoana's hanging was converted to life imprisonment. Relief was also given to other Sikh prisoners on the eve of Guru Nanak Dev's 550th birth anniversary," Attrey said.

SIKH ORGANISATIONS SEEK RELEASE OF 22 PRISONERS

The Shiromani Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC) and SAD, besides many other Sikh organizations, are seeking the release of 22 prisoners. Sikh leaders claim that these prisoners (most of them convicted in terror cases) are languishing in jails despite having completed their sentences. Eight out of the 22 prisoners have been in jails for over 20 years and six of them are assassins of former Punjab Chief Minister Beant Singh.

These prisoners include Davinder Pal Singh Bhullar, Harnek Singh Bhap, Daya Singh Lahoriya, Jagtar Singh Tara, Paramjeet Singh Bheora, Shamsher Singh, Gurmeet Singh, Lakhwinder Singh lakkha, Jagtar Singh Hawara and Balwant Singh Rajoana.

The Union government had issued a notification for the release of two such prisoners, including Davinder Pal Singh Bhullar and Gurdeep Singh Khera, on the eve of the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Devji in 2021, but the same could not become a reality as Delhi and Karnataka governments are yet to give their nod.

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