Amritsar, July 27, 2020: A deputation led MLA Bholath and former Leader of Opposition Sukhpal Singh Khaira here today during meeting with the Jatehdar Akal Takhat Gyani Harpreet Singh submitted memorandum with regard to alleged false implication and arrests of Sikh youth particularly poor Dalits under the draconian UAPA law by central as well as Punjab governments, in the garb of tackling 2020 SFJ sponsored referendum and Khalisthan.
“Through this memorandum we would like to bring to your notice atrocities and excesses being perpetrated by the central government and Punjab government against Sikh youth particularly the Dalits under the oppressive UAPA law. Under the aforesaid draconian UAPA law, more than 16 FIRs have been registered during the recent weeks across Punjab while 47 FIRs have been registered during the 3 years tenure of Capt. Amarinder Singh government, in which utterly poor, defenceless and innocent people have been arrested at a large scale”, alleged he
“We have personally conducted spot visits and done a deep case study of some of the cases registered under UAPA law recently that we wish to bring to your notice, which provesthat most people arrested under the said law are innocent and have been falsely implicated by the police declaring them Khalistani modules, terrorists” he stated.
In memorandum he gave instance of four cases wherein innocent people were allegedly booked and arrested under UAPA.
“Therefore, being the head of a glorious institution like Akal Takhat Sahib we urge you to come forward and raise your voice against injustice and excesses being committed by both the said governments”, said he.
Khaira urging Jatehdar Akal Takhat to intervene and take up the matter of gross injustice being perpetrated on innocents under the draconian UAPA law in the garb of fighting terrorism by the national as well as Punjab government, requested to direct the SGPC to appoint a team of legal luminaries to defend the aggrieved families of innocent victims arrested under the UAPA law and in the meantime award a monthly pension of minimum Rs. 5000 to the said aggrieved families.
Khaira was accompanied by Dr. Dharamvir Gandhi, Ex-MP Patiala, Sucha Singh Chhotepur, Ex-Minister, Jagdev Singh Kamalu, MLA Maur, Pirmal Singh Khalsa, MLA Bhadaur Jagtar Singh Jagga, MLA Raikot and family members of four victim families.
Later talking to the media, Jathedar Akal Takhat said that victim families met him. He felt that fear among innocent youth of Punjab being spread by arresting them under UAPA.
Urging the State and Union Governments to stop the arrest of innocent Sikh youth in Punjab under UAPA. There was dire need to order independent judicial inquiry in this regard as poor Dalit youth in Punjab being targeted. Meanwhile SGPC was asked to fight cases of all Sikh youth in court of law to bring justice. He said recently one young person has committed suicide.
Jatehdar said if somebody has committed a mistake, didn’t mean his life should be spoiled by throwing him behind the bars, he quipped.