File Photos - Sikh Delegation Meeting with PM Modi in 2015
SEVA Trust UK Chairman and Councillor Charan Kanwal Singh Sekhon has welcomed the Indian government’s decision to release Sikh prisoners.
“I would like to thank the honourable PM Shri Narendra Modi and his Cabinet for fulfilling their promise,” Sekhon said.
Cllr Charan Sekhon
“I was part of the Sikh delegation involving the Sikh Council, Nishkam Sewak Jatha, UKs leading Gurdwara Reps, Councillors, Community, Charity, Voluntary Group reps and Business Leaders when we all met with PM Modi in 2015 during his London visit during which this issue was raised along with other issues including removing the Sikh Black List, releasing Sikh prisoners who have already served their sentences,” he said.
Sekhon said the PM assured the group that he will look into all these demands raised in full depth and he listened to all the concerns raised in that meeting very carefully and he took serious interest in all the issues raised and discussed.
“I would also like to thank the Indian High commission London for their positive role and organising that highly significant meeting. It was the first time ever that any Indian PM met with the Sikh delegation on British soil to discuss such issues after the trouble days of Punjab started,” Sekhon said.
He added that the Indian government has already revised and nearly cleared the black list and Mr Hardeep Singh Puri recently announced the start of direct flight from London Stansted to Punjab (which has been a long pending demand) and now this news of releasing Sikh prisoners has sent a wave of happiness among the Sikh community in the UK.
“These are very positive moves clearly indicating the sincere efforts by the government in a really important year when we are celebrating 550th Birth Anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev Ji who was a true messenger of peace, love and serving the humanity. Sikhs are a peace loving community and we would like to see India as a stable, prosper nation and a strong global player that respects all faiths and religions and I am confident these positive steps will help to establish and sustain a long term peace and progression in Punjab,’’ he said.
“I would like to appeal to the Indian Govt. to review all such cases involving allegations of evidence gathered by torture in the past prosecutions and offer fair retrials. During the dark era in Punjab so many innocent lives were lost, families and communities affected and the economy of one of the richest states got destroyed. This holy year when the world is celebrating 550th Parkask Divas of Guru Nanak Dev ji, this offers a great opportunity for reconciliation and unity,” Sekhon said.
