Ekta yatra begins for release of detainees

Mohali, Punjab: The “Kaumi Sikh Ekta Paidal Yatra” for the release of Sikh detainees languishing in various jails and for uniting the community under one Nishan Sahib started from Gurdwara Amb Sahib here today. The march is being led by Gurbaksh Singh Khalsa, a Sikh leader from Haryana who had observed a 44-day fast at the gurdwara last year to demand that the detainees be set free.

The marchers raised slogans and demanded the release of the detainees. They said discrimination against these detainees must stop.

Khalsa said though August 15 was a day of freedom for Indians, it was a day of detention for Sikh detainees.

Khalsa said he, along with the Sikh sangat, would pray at Harmandar Sahib on August 15 for the release of the detainees.

He appealed to the Sikhs to join the march and make it a success so that thousands reached Amritsar to pray for the detainees.

Khalsa said the Punjab Chief Minister should meet the Union Home Minister to resolve the issue.

He said it appeared that the Punjab Government was not interested in freeing of those languishing in jails.

Khalsa said he had earlier gone on fast for getting them freed and the march now was the second step in that direction. If nothing was done by the authorities concerned, he would have to start his fast again.

Khalsa said after stopping at Fatehgarh Sahib, Doraha, Phillaur, Dyalpur and Raiya, the march would culminate in Amritsar on August 15.

Baljinder Kaur, wife of the detainee Shamsher Singh, and Surjeet Kaur and Manjeet Kaur, mother and sister, respectively, of the detainee Gurmeet Singh, were also taking part in the march, said Khalsa.

Source: HT