Bittu not allowed to meet Khalsa

Shivani Bhakoo

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, August 1

Local Congress MP Ravneet Singh Bittu was today not allowed to meet fasting Sikh activist Surat Singh Khalsa who is admitted to Dayanand Medical College and Hospital.

Bittu along with his supporters had come to meet Khalsa to request him to end his fast in the interest of the state and its people, who have already suffered a lot during the militancy period.

Bittu was accompanied by Congress leaders including Bharat Bhushan Ashu, Surinder Dabar, Gurpreet Singh Gogi and Leena Taparia. He reached the hospital at 12:30 pm, but the police personnel deployed there in large numbers did not allow them to enter the hospital.

At the entry of the hospital, Congressmen, about 50-60 in number, carrying placards depicting messages of peace and harmony, held “ardaas” for the speedy recovery of Khalsa. They did not protest when denied entry to the hospital. Bittu said: “We have witnessed a terrorist attack in Gurdaspur. If intelligence reports are to be believed, terrorists are waiting for an opportunity to strike again. Khalsa must end fast to ease tension to a certain extent.”

Bittu alleged: “If some untoward incident takes place, Khalsa and his supporters will be held responsible.”

He won’t end fast: Kin

Reacting to Bittu’s remarks, Khalsa’s daughter Sarbarinder Kaur said her father was on fast with the motive to get Sikh detainees released and till the time the motive was met, he would not end his fast.