Sikh activist to end fast at Golden Temple today

Mohali, Punjab: After observing fast for the past 41 days, Sikh activist Gurbaksh Singh Khalsa today accepted the Akal Takht directive and said he would end his hunger strike at the Golden Temple in Amritsar tomorrow.

This comes after a three-hour meeting between Khalsa and Akal Takht Jathedar Gurbachan Singh and Kesgarh Sahib Jathedar Mal Singh behind closed doors in Mohali.

Later in the evening, Khalsa said he was a dedicated Sikh and could not go against the directives of Akal Takht. “I bow down to the directives and would end my fast at the Golden Temple tomorrow. I would go there with Gurmeet Singh and Lal Singh, who have already been released from jails,” he said.

The Sikh clergy had directed Khalsa to end his fast yesterday following which Khalsa urged the Sikh high priests to come to Gurdwara Amb Sahib for discussion.

The two high priests arrived at the gurdwara this morning and held a meeting with Khalsa.

“It is more or less a victory for Khalsa since Lal Singh and Gurmeet Singh have been released from jails and process in on to secure the release of other four Sikh detainees. We had asked him to end his fast since his health was deteriorating,” said one of the high priests.

Khalsa was later shifted to Fortis Hospital for treatment. “We will go to Amritsar where Khalsa will end his fast tomorrow,” said Harpal Singh Cheema, a member of the organising committee of the Sikh Bandi Rehai Lehar.

He said their struggle to secure the release of the other detainees would continue.

Source: The Tribune