SGPC chief meets kin of Amritpal Singh, aides in Amritsar, extends support

Amritsar, February 23

Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) has shown solidarity with the kin of Amritpal Singh and his aides who have been observing a hunger strike since yesterday, demanding the shifting of detainees from Assam’s Dibrugarh jail to Punjab.

SGPC president Harjinder Singh Dhami today requested them to call off the strike and take a legal course in the matter.

Amritpal’s mother Balwinder Kaur, accompanied by kin of other detainees, is on a strike at Heritage Street near Golden Temple after receiving a negative response from the state government.

They had submitted a demand letter to Amritsar Deputy Commissioner Ghanshyam Thori on February 20, giving a 24-hour ultimatum to initiate the process of shifting the detainees, but to no avail.

Dhami said the only way left was to resort to a legal course of action, adding that the SGPC was committed to extending support.

“The gurmat’ does not allow the Sikhs to take to hunger strike against any oppression, but to fight it. The SGPC has been giving legal support to the detainees and will continue to do so,” he said.

He said he would take the matter up with the Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Raghbir Singh to decide the next step after taking the affected families into confidence.

Reports had surfaced that Amritpal and nine others charged under the National Security Act (NSA) at Dibrugarh Central Jail in Assam have been observing a fast since February 16.

They have accused the jail authorities of infringing their privacy by installing surveillance cameras in their barracks and bathrooms without their knowledge.