Will intensify drive to secure prisoners’ release: HSGMC chief

Nitish Sharma

Tribune News Service

Kurukshetra January 25

The Haryana Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (HSGMC) has decided to intensify its movement to secure the release of prisoners who have completed their jail term.

Talking to The Tribune, HSGMC chief Jagdish Singh Jhinda said, “Gurbaksh Sikh Khalsa’s decision of ending his fast has jolted this movement but the HSGMC will not let it fade away at any cost. Had Khalsa kept his word, Sikh prisoners might have been released by now.”

Jhinda said, “The committee has decided to intensify this movement and it will not be restricted to Sikh prisoners. A list of such prisoners, who have completed their sentence, will be prepared.”

He said, “We met state Director General of Police (DGP) YP Singhal and urged him to release such prisoners from Haryana’s jails but he advised us to submit a list of such prisoners to him. Acting on his advice, we have decided to visit the jails from February 1.” He said, “The number of such prisoners is very less in Haryana but the exact figure will be learnt only after visiting all the jails. The committee will first visit the Karnal jail. Jails in Kurukshetra, Ambala, Hisar, Sirsa and other areas of the state will be visited next month.”

Jhinda said, “The HSGMC will write a letter to the DGP on January 27 requesting him to give them the permission to visit the jails.”

“After visiting the jails of Haryana, we will visit the jails of Punjab, Uttar Pradesh and Delhi,” he said.

“Two meetings of all the ‘Jathebandis’ have been held in this context. Now, a coordination committee will be formed comprising retired IAS, IPS and judges, besides heads of various social and religious organisations. The Dal Khlasa, DSGMC, Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar), Akali Dal Panch Pardhani, Sant samaj and several other religious organisations have extended their support to us,” claimed Jhinda.

Seeks Centre’s view on gurdwara panel

Karnal: Haryana Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee president Jagdish Singh Jhinda on Saturday said the Union Government and Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee were delaying submission of their point of view in the Supreme Court on the issue of separate panel for gurdwaras in the state. Jhinda was interacting with mediapersons after inaugurating the district office of the HSGMC here. He said, “The next date in the SC for submitting the point of view of the Centre and the SGPC is February 9. I have requested an appointment with Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh before this date.” Later, HSGMC members submitted a memorandum seeking a ban on the “MSG-Messenger of God” movie to the city magistrate Ashutosh Sharma for the CM. — TNS