Bupu Surat Singh Khalsa Released; Pledges to Continue Sangharsh

LUDHIANA, Punjab (April 24, 2015)—After being released from Civil Hospital Ludhiana, Bapu Surat Singh Khalsa has stated that he will continue the movement to seek release of Sikh political prisoners. In a press statement, Bapu Surat Singh Khalsa told Sikh24 that the movement for release of Sikh political prisoners will remain alive. He said that following increasing protests in Punjab and all over the world, the Government had no option but to release him.
Police continues to be deployed outside his residence in Hassanpur, Ludhiana. He stated that despite all challenges, the movement will remain alive until Sikh political prisoners who have completed their terms are not released.It is important to mention that Bapu Surat Singh Khalsa had stated a peaceful protest from his house in Hassanpur on January 16, 2015. He was put under formal detention on February 26, and his son – Ravinder Jeet Singh was also arrested.
Bapu Ji has not announced the next course of action, however his son remains lodged in jail. All charges against Bapu Surat Singh Khalsa have been dropped. He was released around 10 PM from the hospital. During the time of his release, his elder daughter – Bibi Sarvarinder Kaur and Advocate Gurjinder Singh Sahni were on their way back to Ludhiana from Delhi after visiting President Pranab Mukherjee. They handed over a memorandum seeking intervention in continued human rights abuses in Punjab.
Bapu Ji stated that along with Sikhs, people of all other religions who have completed their terms must be released. A number of human rights organization, including India’s oldest civil liberties union, the PUCL had join the struggle initiated by Bapu Surat Singh Khalsa. Bapu Ji’s movement had received a significant backing from the West, where organizations such as Ensaaf, Organization for Minorities of India, and dozens of Sikh Gurdwaras and institutions provided support.