Sri Amritsar, October 28 , Kanwar Partap Singh / Tajeemnoor Kaur 

Jathedar Sri Akal Takht Sahib Giani Kuldip Singh Gargajj has strongly condemned the police brutality against Sikhs protesting in Mansa and the disrespect shown to their articles of faith and turbans.
He said strict action should be taken by the Punjab Police against the its officials responsible for disrespecting Sikh articles of faith and turbans. He cautioned the Punjab Police and the state government that Sikhs would neither forget nor tolerate such shameful and high-handed actions.
Giani Kuldip Singh Gargajj said the drug problem in Punjab was extremely serious and that preventing drug abuse and trafficking was a primary responsibility of successive governments. However, the present government had completely failed in this regard.

Instead of protecting the people, the Punjab government was subjecting them to brutality, the Jathedar said, adding that the people would give an appropriate response at the right time.

The Jathedar appealed to Punjabis, justice-oriented organisations and prominent individuals to participate in large numbers in the ongoing protest at Mansa seeking justice for Shaheed Bhai Parwinder Singh.

He said the case of Daljit Singh, a young man from Bhamme Kalan village in Mansa district, had come to light following his mysterious death. The family alleged that he had died of a drug overdose and demanded action against those accused of selling drugs.

However, when people gathered to protest and demand action, the police allegedly used force against them and treated them in an inhumane manner, he said. The police should take such action against the drug traffickers and stop the drug trafficking. 

Giani Kuldip Singh Gargajj asserted that the disrespect of the turbans, unshorn hair (kes) and articles of faith of Amritdhari Sikhs could not be tolerated. He said every citizen had the right to hold peaceful protests in the country, and the government’s high-handed treatment of people was unjust.

He added that governments existed to serve the people and that the arrogance and intoxication of power could not last Forever.