Yesterday, Bhai Gurbaksh Singh Khalsa’s “vasiyatnama” (will) was taken to Sri Akal Takhat Sahib by a number of prominent Sikh leaders. Bhai Amrik Singh Ajnala, S. Simranjit Singh Mann, Giani Ram Singh Khalsa Bhindranwale, Bhai Mohkam Singh and Baba Baljit Singh Daduwal were present in the march. Panthik leaders along with sister of Bhai Gurbaksh Singh presented the signed will to Giani Gurbachan Singh, appointed Jathedar.
The march went through various parts of Punjab before reaching Akal Takhat Sahib. It received much support in a number of cities and villages en route to Akal Takhat Sahib.
As per a statement of Bhai Gurbaksh Singh Khalsa, after his demise, his body would be presented to Sri Akal Takhat Sahib. Takhat Sahib would have authority to donate Bhai Gurbaksh Singh’s body parts anywhere. Bhai Gurbaksh Singh has continued to respect Sri Akal Takhat Sahib despite the current appointed Jathedar not expressing full support.
At Gurdwara Amb Sahib in Ajitgarh, over two thousand people took part in what is being considered as the biggest Khalsa March in support of Bhai Gurbaksh Singh Khalsa since his release from Jail. Different speakers addressed the Sikh Sangat and expressed solidarity with Bhai Gurbaksh Singh. A number of human rights organizations were also present there.
Namely, Bhai Gurbaksh Singh Khalsa, Journalish Bhai Jarnail Singh, Giani Gurdeep Singh, Sarabjit Singh Dhunda and others addressed the Sikh Sangat. Bhai Jarnail Singh’s speech was inspiring and full of details. Speakers addressed the topic without diverging to other issues. The march also included a number of Dhadhis and Katha Vachiks.
On December 8th , According witnesses and his supporters, Mr. Singh was forcibly picked up by the police, who arrived at the site disguised as pilgrims. He was immediately bundled into a police vehicle and rushed to Mohali civil hospital. Later, he was sent to a jail in Ropar district on the charge of breaching tranquillity of the area.
Major Singh, who has been chronicling the events for the past 23 days, ever since Bhai Gurbaksh Singh started fasting, said that a large posse of police had converged on the shrine and also surrounded the civil hospital. Mr. Singh, he said, resisted every effort to feed him and warned the authorities against attempts to desecrate the ‘ardas’ (prayers) that he had offered before starting the protest.
Gurbaksh Singh, who has received support from various religious and radical Sikh organisations, including the Amritsar and Panch Pardhani factions of the Akali Dal, has been on fast since November 14. He is seeking the release of Lakhvinder Singh, Shamsher Singh and Gurmit Singh — who received life terms for their involvement in the assassination of former Punjab Chief Minister Beant Singh and have been in prison since 1995 — and Lal Singh and Gurdip Singh, who have spent 20 and 23 years in Gujarat and Karnataka jails, respectively, after being convicted by TADA courts.
Immediately after the police took Mr. Singh away, five people, later identified as Manjit Kaur, Inderpal Singh, Hardeep Singh, Harpreet Singh and Jaswant Singh, performed ‘ardas’ and began fasting. As the news went viral, representatives of various organisations began turning up and a coordination committee was formed to continue the demonstration. Mr. Singh, meanwhile, sent a message from the jail that he would continue protesting while in custody. After various rounds of discussions, the committee decided that Damandeep Singh, 26, from Haryana would sit on fast in place of Mr. Singh. Damandeep appealed to Sikhs to mobilise support and generate awareness about the issue.
A number of Punjabi singers and actors have come out in support of Bhai Gurbaksh Singh Khalsa who is on hunger strike since November 14 to seek the release of Sikhs being held illegally in jails across India. Bhai Gurbaksh Singh is demanding the release of six Sikhs who have not been released despite having completed their prison sentences.
Harbhajan Mann and Diljit Dosanjh have come out in support of Bhai Gurbaksh Singh Khalsa recently. Harbhajan Mann who enjoys over 500,000 likes on Facebook posted the following message publicly
Comedian Bhagwant Mann also visited Bhai Gurbaksh Singh Khalsa and expressed his support. Jazzy B and Raj Kakra also received appreciation from the Sikh community for showing solidarity.
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