Akali Dal ‘Waris Punjab De’ Holds March Seeking Release of Bandi Singhs, MP Bhai Amritpal Singh

Akali Dal ‘Waris Punjab De’ Holds March Seeking Release of Bandi Singhs, MP Bhai Amritpal Singh

Waris Punjab De lodged strong Protest Against Continued Detention of MP Bhai Amritpal Singh in Dibrugarh Jail Despite Expiry of NSA

Youths Stand against Water Cannon under the Leadership of Bapu Tarsem Singh, Manpreet Singh Ayali and MP Bhai Sarabjit Singh Khalsa

Chandigarh 29 July ( Ranjeet Singh Dhaliwal ) : Members and supporters of Akali Dal "Waris Punjab De" on Wednesday staged a protest march in Chandigarh demanding the release of Sikh prisoners and seeking the release of Khadoor Sahib MP Amritpal Singh, who remains lodged in Dibrugarh Jail despite the lifting of the National Security Act (NSA) detention order against Bhai Amritpal Singh.The march began from Gurdwara Amb Sahib in Mohali and witnessed participation from a large number of party workers, youths and women supporters. Protesters raised slogans demanding the immediate release of the Bandi Singhs and Bhai Amritpal Singh Khalsa. Police and administrative authorities attempted to stop the march by deploying water cannons, following which traffic movement on several roads in and around Chandigarh was affected for some time. Despite the action, protesters continued their demonstration and pressed for their demands.

Addressing the gathering, Akali Dal "Waris Punjab De" leader Bapu Tarsem Singh said that peaceful protest is a constitutional right in a democracy and criticized the use of force against demonstrators. He also thanked party workers and women participants for maintaining a peaceful protest. Senior party leader Manpreet Singh Ayali said that several Bandi Singhs have completed their sentences and the delays in their release raise serious concerns. He said that some prisoners have spent more time in jail than the sentences awarded to them and called for their immediate release. Referring to Amritpal Singh, Ayali said that continuing his detention after the expiry of the NSA was contrary to democratic and constitutional principles. He also said that the MP Bhai Amritpal Singh was being prevented from effectively representing his constituency and raising Punjab related issues.

Faridkot MP Sarabjit Singh Khalsa, who also addressed the gathering, warned that the agitation could be intensified if the demands are not addressed in coming time. He said people across Punjab are raising concerns over the Bandi Singhs and urged the Centre and the Punjab government to take steps towards resolving the matter. On this occasion, Bapu Tarsem Singh, S. Manpreet Singh Ayali, and Bhai Parmjeet Singh Johal submitted a memorandum to Navraj Singh Brar, Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister of Punjab, S. Bhagwant Mann, demanding the release of the Bandi Singhs, the transfer of Bhai Amritpal Singh Khalsa from Dibrugarh Jail to Punjab, along with several other related demands.

On this occasion, district presidents from all districts of the organisation were present. The party's senior leadership, including Bhai Parmjeet Singh Johal, Jaskaran Kahan Singh Wala, Bhai Amarjit Singh Vanchiri, Sardar Harbhajan Singh Tur, Youth President Sardar Sukhdev Singh Kadian, Women's Wing President Bibi Harpreet Kaur, Babu Singh Brar, Sardar Kabal Singh, Gagandeep Singh Doraha, Daler Singh Dodd, Bhai Rachhpal Singh Sosan, Sardar Pirthipal Singh, Bibi Satnam Kaur, Bibi Jasmeet Kaur Khalsa, Advocate Varinder Singh, Advocate Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, Bhai Jagdeep Singh Kansala (District President, Mohali), Harjinder Singh (District President, Youth Wing), Narinder Singh Bhinder, Jashandeep Singh, Sandeep Singh Rupalon, Jaswinder Singh Droli, Lakha Singh Sidhana, Bhana Sidhu, Navjot Kaur Lambi, Jaswinder Singh Dhillon, and Lakhvir Singh Dhillon, also participated in the protest march।