MP Vikram Sahney demands release of Bandi Sikhs in Parliament
Press Release
08/12/2023
MP Vikram Sahney demands release of Bandi Sikhs in Parliament
MP Vikramjit Singh Sahney today forcefully raised the issue of Bandi Sikhs in Rajya Sabha which has been a heart burn for the Sikh community since long.
Shri Sahney said that this issue is complex and routed in historical, political and legal considerations. These individuals who were arrested and imprisoned who are involved in various incidents related to militancy in Punjab. The prolonged incarceration of Sikh prisoners have raised concerns about the due and just process, fair trials and treatment of the prisoners within the Indian judicial system, “Justice delayed justice denied.” Sh. Sahney added
Shri Sahney explained that we have witnessed the release of convicts of Bilkis Bano case after completing 15 years in jail and also the assassins of former Prime Minister Sh. Rajiv Gandhi were released after completion of 30 years in prison.
Shri Sahney also said that there are instances of culprits committed heinous crimes but being granted frequent paroles 3-4 times in a year.
Sh. Sahney demanded that there should be uniform national level policy that govern the Centre and State government deciding the premature release and remission cases so that uniformity should be maintained.
Sh. Sahney further draw 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 in notification by Union government dated 11th October, 2019 have not yet been released. These Bandi Sikhs have been kept behind the bars for more than 30 years now.
Sh. Sahney explained that many of them are facing serious physical and mental health illness and he demanded to the Hon’ble Prime Minister and Home Minister of India to constitute a high powered committee to review all these cases of Bandi Sikhs and grant release to them. The issue of Bandi Sikhs is a necessary step in addressing historical injustices and as means of fostering reconciliation and social healing in Punjab, Shri Sahney added.