LUDHIANA, Punjab—Bapu Surat Singh Khalsa’s hunger strike has completed 280 days. His health is in a critical condition, however, the Punjab and Union Government are still trying to completely ignore the demands raised for the release of political prisoners who have already completed their terms.
Meanwhile, as an emergency like situation has become evident in Punjab, Bapu Surat Singh raised concern for the well-being of people. “He has witnessed extrajudicial disappearances of thousands of Sikhs in the 1980s, and he doesn’t want that to happen again,” said his son Ravinder Jeet Singh Gogi. The police crackdown and excessive use of force has left 3 dead and dozens wounded in Punjab.
“Bapu Surat Singh is extremely unhappy about the killings of 3 Sikhs this past week. We can’t afford to have more people become victim of police brutalities. It happened in 1980s and it’s happening again,” his son told Sikh24. “Bapu Ji has not had any nourishment in past 8 months, which has not only taken a toll on his body, but on his mind as well. Anything that is not shaken is his faith and resolve for the release of political prisoners who are still languishing in jails despite having completed their sentences,” he added.
Sikhs all over the state have come out on the streets to protest the growing cases of sacrilege in their homeland. For past several days, major highways and roads have been blocked due to police brutalities and lack of action in the sacrilege cases.
He is not gonna win.
1980-1990 era of violence in Punjab has created so much fear in the People of India and Punjab that any mention of releasing its perpetrator will only fall on deaf ear.
It was the worst period Punjab had after 1947 partition and every one has bitter memories of it .