Punjab MP in RS seeks release of Sikh prisoners

New Delhi, Dec 8 (IANS) Rajya Sabha MP Vikramjit Singh Sahney on Friday raised the issue of release of Sikh prisoners undergoing imprisonment in cases related to Punjab militancy, saying many of them were facing serious physical and mental health illnesses.

The AAP MP from Punjab said in the Rajya Sabha that this issue “was complex and rooted in historical, political and legal considerations. These individuals who were arrested and imprisoned were involved in incidents related to militancy in Punjab. The prolonged incarceration of Sikh prisoners has raised concerns”.

“Justice delayed is justice denied,” Sahney said.

“We have witnessed the release of convicts of Bilkis Bano case after completing 15 years in jail and also assassins of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi after completion of 30 years in prison,” he said.

Sahney demanded that there should be uniform national policy that governs the Centre and state governments and decides the premature release and remission cases so that uniformity should be maintained.

He drew the attention of the House that some of the prisoners who were granted remission like Gurdeep Singh Khera and Devinder Pal Bhullar and whose death sentence was commuted to life imprisonment like Balwant Singh Rajwana by the Union government have not yet been released.

“These Bandi Sikhs have been kept behind the bars for more than 30 years now.”

Sahney urged the Prime Minister and the Home Minister to constitute a high-powered committee to review all these cases of ‘Bandi’ Sikhs and grant release to them.

–IANS

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