The central government should announce the release of imprisoned Sikhs on the occasion of Vaisakhi Purab, the day of the formation of the Khalsa Panth: Paramjit Singh Virji

Bhai Paramjit Singh Virji, head of Gurubani Research Foundation and former chief servant of the Dharam Prachar Wing of Delhi Committee, said in a statement issued to the media that the issue of release of Sikh prisoners has been a burning issue and a topic of discussion not only in Punjab and the Sikh community but also in the politics of the country for some time now, but for a long time now, the Panth has been raising its voice on a large scale for the release of these prisoners. The prisoners who rose up against the government oppression on the community were Sikh youth from ordinary homes, who were victims of the political discrimination of the Congress governments and the unfortunate conditions created by them during that period and were forced to follow the path of violence. The release of prisoners serving more than their due sentence is not possible without the intervention of the Center and the State. The decision to release Sikh prisoners depends on the political will of the Center and the State.

Therefore, keeping in mind the demand of the Sikh community, the Government of India under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi issued a notification on the 550th Parkash Purb of Guru Nanak Ji in November 2019. But despite this, no action was taken on this notification. The SGPC, the apex body of the Sikh Panth, wrote to the Central Government several times on this very serious issue and asked them to discuss the issue of the release of the imprisoned Singhs, but they were not given any response. The Central Government should take action on the important demand of the Sikh Panth on the occasion of Baisakhi Purb, the day of the formation of the Khalsa Panth, and make an effort to let these Singhs join the mainstream by announcing the release of the imprisoned Singhs. Regarding this very serious issue of the Panth, the Delhi Gurdwara Committee should also come forward to resolve the issue of the imprisoned Singhs through its former president Manjinder Singh Sirsa, who has now become a cabinet minister in the Delhi State Government.