BJP goes all out to woo Sikh electorate as Ravneet Bittu favours release of Bandi Singhs

Union Minister and senior BJP leader Ravneet Singh Bittu’s recent remarks supporting the release of “Bandi Singhs” may turn out to be the saffron party’s biggest attempt at wooing the Sikh electorate.

At the same time, the step can take the wind out of the sails of two “parallel” Akali Dals, besides the hardliner Amritpal Singh-led Akali Dal (Waris Punjab De), who have been trying to champion the demand to release political Sikh prisoners — languishing in indifferent jails across the country.

Though the BJP has gained vote share in urban areas (bypolls and Lok Sabha elections), rural areas dominated by the Sikhs remain a big challenge.

“The issue had hit the headlines in 2015. At that time, more than 100 political Sikh prisoners were mentioned in the list. Later, it came down to 20 Bandi Singhs. Of these, 14 are still in jails,” said Advocate Jaspal Singh Manjhpur, who has been pursuing these cases.

And Bittu’s statement gains significance as seven of these 14 were jailed for being involved in assassination of his grandfather and Chief Minister Beant Singh.

In an interview with a TV channel on Sunday, Bittu said he had decided not to oppose the release of “Bandi Singhs”. “I have spoken with my family about it and they are in agreement,” stated Bittu, who had been opposing their release so far.

The convicts in the Beant Singh assassination case still languishing in jails include Balwant Singh Rajoana, Jagtar Singh Hawara, Lakhwinder Singh Lakha, Gurmeet Singh, Shamsher Singh, Paramjit Singh Bheora and Jagtar Singh Tara.

Welcoming Bittu’s statement, Prof Prem Singh Chandumajra, a senior leader with the Giani Harpreet Singh- led Shiromani Akali Dal, said, “Punjab needs to move on and look forward to development. However, it remains to be seen if Bittu follows his statement with good intent.”

Many of the Bandi Sikhs have completed their sentences, yet remain imprisoned due to legal ambiguities and lack of coordinated action between the Centre and the state government.

Further, the Supreme Court’s interpretation of life imprisonment as “imprisonment for life” has complicated efforts for their early release.

The movement has seen several Sikh activists undertake hunger strikes for release of Bandi Singhs.

Surat Singh Khalsa, a revered human rights activist, led longest hunger strike from January 2015 until January 2023, demanding the release of Sikh political prisoners.

Gurbaksh Singh Khalsa, a farmer and activist from Kurukshetra, staged a 44-day hunger strike in 2013 at Gurdwara Amb Sahib in Mohali.

The Qaumi Insaaf Morcha, a coalition of religious and farm unions, has been staging a dharna at the Chandigarh-Mohali border since early 2023.

The issue is also a political flashpoint, with parties using it to mobilise support while facing criticism for lack of action. SAD legislator Manpreet Singh Ayali raised the issue in the Assembly in March 2024, demanding the immediate release of Bandi Singhs and the transfer of Amritpal Singh and associates from Assam to Punjab.

The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), led by Harjinder Singh Dhami, expressed disappointment over the Prime Minister’s Office ignoring a five-member panel formed by te Akal Takht to seek clemency for the prisoners.

Despite repeated appeals, the Centre has not responded to the SGPC’s resolutions, further fueling frustration among Sikh organisations and the electorate.