Left raises voice against harsh punishment
A SBS NAGAR COURT HELD THREE YOUTHS GUILTY OF WAGING WAR AGAINST THE STATE ON THE BASIS OF RECOVERY OF PRO-KHALISTAN LITERATURE FROM THEM
bodies have come out in support of three Sikh men who were sentenced to jail for life by a Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar court on February 5 for waging war against the state by promoting the idea of Khalistan.
The court held Surjit Singh, 27; Arvinder Singh, 29; and Ranjit Singh, 29, guilty of waging war against the state on the basis of recovery of books, literature, pamphlets from them following their arrest in 2016 and handed them life term. It was alleged that the youths were promoting the idea of Khalistan and inciting people to join the movement.
Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) Liberation was the first to stage a dharna on February 8 against the conviction at Mansa. Its activists also handed over a memorandum to the administration against the verdict.
Patiala MP Dharamvira Gandhi, who was associated with Left bodies before he joined the Aam Aadmi Party, has also spoken against the verdict, saying possessing books of an ideology is not an offence.
A strong-worded press statement has been issued by Leftist advocacy group ‘Jamhuri Adhikar Sabha’, raising questions on the life sentence awarded to the youths.
Left-leaning student outfits Punjab Students Union (Lalkar) and Students For Society (SFS) had staged a dharna on the campus of Guru Nanak Dev University here on Saturday against the sentence.
The events are being watched with keen interest by the political observers in the light of the fact that Leftists and pro-Khalistani elements have remained at loggerheads in the past. Some Leftist ideologues and activists were even attacked by pro-Khalistan militants during the militancy days.
The Left groups never came in support of pro-Khalistan supporters who were handed similar verdicts in the past. “Actually this case appears different from others. These three youths don’t seem activists. Any person can keep literature of any ideology. So, the Left groups have come in their support,” said Buta Singh Nawanshahr, a Left activist.
Another reason he cited behind the development is that Left activists are allegedly also being victimised in a similar manner across the country under the BJP-led central government.
On the other hand, Sukhdarshan Natt, a senior leader of CPI (ML) Liberation, said ideologybased conflict is a separate issue and ideologically they are still strong opponent of the idea of Khalistan. He said they protested for protection of the human rights, including the freedom of speech and expression.