FIR Aimed at Suppressing Voice for Release of Bandi Singhs : Bapu Tarsem Singh

FIR Aimed at Suppressing Voice for Release of Bandi Singhs : Bapu Tarsem Singh

Peaceful March Being Deliberately Maligned : Manpreet Singh Ayali

Chandigarh 31 July ( Ranjeet Singh Dhaliwal ) : Akali Dal "Waris Punjab De" strongly condemned the FIR registered following its peaceful protest march in Chandigarh. The march was organized to demand the release of Bandi Singhs and Khadoor Sahib MP Bhai Amritpal Singh and to allow him to raise Punjab's concerns in Parliament. Senior party leader Bapu Tarsem Singh said the FIR was a clear attempt to suppress democratic voices and weaken a growing movement seeking justice for the Bandi Singhs. He noted that the demand for their release has been raised for years and recalled that the Prime Minister had assured the Sikh community of their release during the celebrations of Guru Nanak Dev Ji's Prakash Purab.

"Today, when people from every section of Punjab and from different religious communities are coming together to raise their voice against this injustice, baseless cases are being registered to silence them," he said. Tarsem Singh expressed concern over the inclusion of the name of late leader and former minister Ajaib Singh Mukmailpur in the FIR, calling it evidence of the factual inaccuracies. He said the naming of a deceased individual exposed the flawed nature of the action and reflected an attempt to weaken public unity and discourage youth participation. He also expressed regret to the Mukmailpur family for the distress caused by irresponsible police action.

Describing the protest as a symbol of unity and communal harmony, Tarsem Singh said people from Sikh, Hindu, Muslim and Christian communities had participated in large numbers. "The struggle for the release of the Bandi Singhs is not the concern of one community alone; it is an issue that resonates with Punjabis across all sections of society," he said. He further alleged that the FIR was aimed at creating a false narrative around an entirely peaceful movement and urged the Chandigarh Administration to refrain from such actions. Senior leader Manpreet Singh Ayali said attempts were being made to malign a peaceful and disciplined protest. He stated that the march was conducted in a completely non-violent manner, with participants strictly adhering to the designated route plan and following all traffic regulations.

"The Sangat conducted itself with complete discipline and ensured that the convenience of elderly citizens, school vehicles and the general public was respected throughout the march," he said. Ayali maintained that the FIR demonstrated the government's unwillingness to tolerate peaceful democratic dissent. He alleged that the case was based on a false narrative and reflected growing discomfort with the increasing unity being shown by Punjabis on issues concerning justice and rights. He said that Punjab's contribution to India's freedom struggle and to making the country self-reliant in food production could not be neglected. He said that concerns related to Punjab, including the issue of the Bandi Singhs, were being ignored while those raising such matters were being targeted. Ayali thanked the youth, women and elderly participants who joined the march, saying they had risen above political divisions and factional interests to collectively raise their voice for justice and democratic rights.