Washington: The Sikh community in the US has appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to release Sikhs languishing in Indian jails despite being eligible for parole. In a memorandum submitted to the Prime Minister through the Indian Embassy here, a delegation of Sikh-Americans led by Jasdip Singh (Jesse), Chairman of the Maryland Governor's commission on South Asian affairs, said that the 60-days hunger strike by Bhai Gurbaksh Singh Khalsa in Punjab has brought this issue to the forefront.
The Sikh delegation requested the government to take immediate action for the release of eligible Sikh prisoners in India.
The memorandum noted that exceptions have been made in the recent past when extremists from Kashmir and North Eastern states have been released and rehabilitated. In their memorandum, the delegation praised the Modi Government for taking steps to address the issues related to the Sikh community.
It also praised the recent statement by the Home Minister Rajnath Singh that the anti-Sikh riots of 1984 was a “genocide”.
“We are confident that under your leadership (Modi) we will resolve all major issues,” the memorandum added.
