Sikh group to wear black, protest demanding prisoners' release
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Amritsar: Demanding the release of Sikh prisoners who have completed their terms, the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) decided to hold protests at district levels on August 13 and submit memorandums to deputy commissioners, the organisation informed on Wednesday.
It said that its members and employees would also wear black turbans as part of the protest, PTI reported.
The decision was taken in an SGPC executive committee meeting chaired by Harjinder Singh Dhami.
Dhami claimed that 80 per cent of sacrifices done for the freedom of India was done by Sikhs, but they have been alienated for the past 75 years.
"An example of this discrimination with Sikhs is non-release of 'Bandi Singhs' who are jailed for the last three decades even after serving more than the life sentences."
"The Constitution of the country gives equal rights to every citizen, but the government's attitude towards the Sikhs has remained negative. It is due to this anti-Sikh attitude that justice is not being given to Sikhs imprisoned for the last 30 years," alleged Dhami.
When the country celebrated the 75th anniversary of Independence, Sikhs who made the country free were being left to struggle for their basic rights, he claimed.
He said, "It is due to this discriminatory attitude of the governments that the SGPC has decided to hold protest across Punjab on August 13."