Human Rights Day & Sikh Political Prisoners

On 7 Dec, in view of international Human Rights Day (HRD), Sikh lawyer and human rights activist Advocate Jaspal Singh Manjhpur called on the global Sikh community to mark 10 Dec as Black Turban Day to express support to Bandi Singh (Sikh political prisoners) (SDW Vol. 1 Issue 9, Story 4). Notably, the United Nations theme for 2023 is Freedom, Equality and Justice for All. On 9 Dec, Dal Khalsa held a protest demon­stra­tion in Bathinda in the wake of the re­cent US in­dict­ment im­pli­cat­ing In­dian agents in a plot to as­sas­si­nate Gur­pat­want Singh Pannu. On 5 Dec, Balwant Singh Rajoana began a hunger strike at Patiala Central Jail against SGPC which turned down his request to withdraw the mercy plea it filed on his behalf. On 6 Nov, the Akal Takht requested Rajoana to end his hunger strike and sought the withdrawal of the mercy petition filed before the President in 2012 in view of its prolonged pendency. The SGPC has appealed to farmer unions to participate in a protest march on 20 Dec in Delhi. On 7 Dec, the All-India Sikh Students Federation leaders committed to participate in the protest march. On 8 Dec, Rajya Sabha MP Vikramjit Singh Sahney raised the issue of release of Sikh prisoners in Parliament. The AAP MP said the issue ‘was complex and rooted in historical, political and legal considerations.’ He said, if Bilkis Bano convicts can be released after 15 years and assassins of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi can be released after 30 years, Bandi Singhs should also be released.