Government's leniency towards police officer serving sentence in Shaheed Bhai Jaswant Singh Khalra case raises big questions - Advocate Dhami

AMRITSAR: The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee today took out a protest march from Ghantaghar Plaza on the outskirts of Sri Darbar Sahib to the Deputy Commissioner's office demanding the lifting of the ban on the film 'Sutlej', which depicts the life of Bhai Jaswant Singh Khalra, his work for human rights, his abduction and martyrdom by the police and the atrocities committed against Sikh youth during the decades after 1980.

The protest march was attended by Shiromani Committee President Advocate Harjinder Singh Dhami, members of the Shiromani Committee, officers and all employees. During the protest march, the participants held placards and banners in their hands, on which slogans of justice for the martyr Bhai Jaswant Singh Khalra and the atrocities committed against Sikhs during that period were written.

Speaking to the media at the start of the protest march, SGPC President Advocate Harjinder Singh Dhami said that the martyrdom of Bhai Jaswant Singh Khalra is a unique sacrifice for truth and human rights. Bhai Jaswant Singh Khalra courageously collected information about missing youths in an era when there was an atmosphere of fear and terror. He collected records from various crematoriums and municipal councils of Punjab, in which the details of the youths who were cremated as unidentified were recorded. This work was a historic effort to bring out the truth not for any one person, but for the entire humanity.

Advocate Dhami said that to suppress these efforts of Bhai Khalra, he was kidnapped by the police and martyred after inhuman torture.

He said that the truth of the torture on Bhai Khalra came to light after the telegram sent by the then Shiromani Committee President Jathedar Gurcharan Singh Tohra to the Supreme Court and the family raised the matter.

He said that the government's ban on the film 'Sutlej', made to make the world aware of Bhai Khalra's life, the struggle fought for human rights and the atrocities committed against Sikh youth, shortly after its release raises serious questions. He said that many lawyers, human rights fighters and their families have also made great sacrifices at that time.

Advocate Dhami said that he himself has also been a witness to this period, because as a lawyer he used to pursue the cases of Sikh youth. This was the peak of atrocities on Sikhs, but it is a pity that Sikhs have not got justice till date. Advocate Dhami said that the leniency shown by the government towards the police officer serving his sentence in the case of Bhai Khalra also raises big questions.

He said that the cases of Sikh youths who have spent more time in jail than their sentences are not even being considered, while efforts are being made to pardon the sentences of such police officers who have abused the youth.

Talking about Bhai Balwant Singh Rajoana, Bhai Jagtar Singh Hawara and other imprisoned Sikhs, he said that the government has always neglected matters related to Sikh sentiments. He said that even the parole sought by Bhai Jagtar Singh Hawara to meet his elderly mother is not being decided. This injustice towards Sikhs is a manifestation of the biased attitude of the government.

The SGPC President also appealed to the devotees to attend the Ardas ceremony being held on the banks of the Sutlej River on July 14, remembering the martyrs, as per the orders of the Jathedar of Sri Akal Takht Sahib. He demanded that the ban on the film 'Sutlej' be lifted immediately and it be re-released, so that the new generation can be aware of the bitter truths of Punjab's history.

Meanwhile, the office bearers, members and officials of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee submitted a memorandum to the Governor of Punjab to immediately lift the ban on the film 'Sutlej' and to ensure justice for the atrocities committed against Sikh youths, to Amritsar's Additional Deputy Commissioner Pallavi Mishra.
On this occasion, SGPC Junior Vice President S. Baldev Singh Kalyan, Former SGPC President S. Alwinderpal Singh Pakhoke, Chief Secretary S. Kulwant Singh Mannan, Interim Member S. Surjit Singh Tugalwal, S. Mangwinder Singh Khaparkheri, Member Bhai Rajinder Singh Mehta, Advocate Bhagwant Singh Sialka, S. Surjit Singh Bhittewad, S. Amarjit Singh Bandala, S. Amarjit Singh Bhalaipur, OSD S. Satbir Singh, Secretary S. Balwinder Singh Kahlwan, S. Gurinder Singh Mathrewal, Personal Secretary S. Shahbaz Singh, Additional Secretary S. Bijay Singh, S. Tejinder Singh Padda, S. Jaswinder Singh Jassi, S. Preetpal Singh, S. Bhagwant Singh Dhangera, S. Balwinder Singh Khairabad, Deputy Secretary S. Gurnam Singh, S. Manjit Singh Talwandi, S. Harbhajan Singh, S. Sukhbir Singh, S. Azaddeep Singh, S. Gurmeet Singh Muktsari, S. Satnam Singh Riar, Manager of Sri Darbar Sahib S. Major Singh, Legal Advisor Advocate Amanbir Singh Siali, Superintendent S. Nishan Singh and S. Malkit Singh Beharwal, Manager S. Rajinder Singh Ruby, S. Narinder Singh and all the employees were present.