Sikhs protest in Chandigarh on India’s Independence Day
ChandigarH: Sikhs held a massive protest in Chandigarh on the occasion of Indian Independence Day, demanding the immediate release of detained Sikhs.
According to Kashmir Media Service, the protest was organized by the “National Justice Morcha” at the Chandigarh-Mohali border demanding the release of detained Sikhs.
Indian police used water cannon and teargas on the demonstrators and according to an Indian media report, protesters threw stones at the police.
The protesters had announced a march towards Lok Bhawan in Chandigarh while heavy contingents of Indian police were deployed and barricades were erected on the roads connecting Punjab and Chandigarh.
Bapu Gurcharan Singh, father of Jagtar Singh Hawara, said: “Peaceful protest is our fundamental right in democracy. We have been sitting here with peace and order for more than three years but the government is not ready to give us justice. That is why on Independence Day we held a peaceful march and protest with black flags. Our aim is completely peaceful but the government is creating obstacles in this peaceful protest.”
He said they have never broken barricades and are ready to cooperate with the police but unnecessary barricades are creating tension and they are being pushed towards a situation that that do not want.
“Our main demand is the release of the detained Sikhs, right now we are demanding 10-day parole for one of them so that he can meet his mother who is seriously ill and bedridden for a long time,” he added.
The names of the Sikh prisoners, whom the protesters are demanding to be released, include Jagtar Singh Hawara, Balwant Singh Rajwana, Jagtar Singh Tara, Paramjit Singh Bheora, Devendrapal Singh Bhilar, Gurdeep Singh Kheda, Lakhwinder Singh Lakha, Gurmeet Singh and Shamsher Singh, who have been in jail for a long time.
The protesters say that all these people have completed their prescribed sentences, so they should be released immediately.
