The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Delhi has taken a sudden U-turn on the parole of a Khalistan Liberation Force (KLF) extremist, infuriating the Sikh community.
Just days ago, the Delhi government had agreed to release the prisoner, Davinder Pal Singh Bhullar, on parole to visit his ailing mother in the midst of the ongoing row over the desecration of Guru Granth Sahib.
Why the U-Turn?
However, in a shocking reversal, the AAP government has now refused to grant parole to Bhullar, citing security concerns.
The decision has sparked outrage among Sikhs, who feel that the government has once again betrayed their trust.
According to sources, the Delhi government had initially agreed to Bhullar’s parole after intense pressure from the Sikh community, who had threatened to take to the streets if their demands were not met.
But now, it seems that the government has backtracked on its promise, leaving the Sikhs seething with anger.
The Khalistan Liberation Force (KLF) is a militant group that has been involved in several terrorist activities in the past, including the assassination of former Chief Minister of Punjab, Beant Singh.
Bhullar was convicted of plotting to kill Beant Singh and was sentenced to death, but his sentence was later commuted to life imprisonment.
The decision to refuse parole to Bhullar has been widely condemned by Sikh leaders, who accuse the AAP government of being insensitive to the community’s concerns.
“The government’s decision is a betrayal of the trust that the Sikh community had placed in them,” said a senior leader of the Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar).
“We had given the government an opportunity to show that they are committed to solving the problems of the Sikh community, but instead, they have chosen to ignore our pleas,” he added.
Anger and Protests
The news of the AAP government’s U-turn has sparked widespread anger among Sikhs, with many taking to social media to express their outrage.
Protests are also planned in several cities, including Delhi, Amritsar, and Chandigarh, to express solidarity with the Sikh community.
The protests are expected to be peaceful, but the situation remains tense, with many fearing that the anger could boil over into violence.
The AAP government has tried to downplay the issue, saying that the decision to refuse parole to Bhullar was taken in the best interests of the state.
However, the damage has already been done, and the government’s reputation has taken a hit.
The Sikh community feels that the government has let them down once again, and they are unlikely to forget this quickly.
What’s Next?
The situation is likely to remain volatile for some time, with the Sikh community demanding that the government reconsider its decision.
The AAP government, on the other hand, seems determined to stick to its guns, despite the backlash.
Only time will tell if the government’s decision will have any long-term consequences for the AAP, which has been known for its progressive policies and outreach to various communities.
One thing is certain, however – the Sikh community will not let this issue die down easily, and the government will have to find a way to placate them if they want to avoid further trouble.