Chandigarh, August 11
Senior Shiromani Akali Dal leader and Member of Parliament from Bathinda Harsimrat Kaur Badal today took on the Union Home Minister Amit Shah, seeking an assurance that the government’s proposed legislation on citizen’s rights would not come in the way of the fulfillment of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s commitment to the Khalsa Panth to release the “Dharmi Bandi Sikhs.”
The former Union Minister also decried the Punjab government’s total indifference to and inaction on the drug menace in the state, saying, “ Even where they are concrete complaints by families hit by drug-related tragedies, no action is taken by the authorities.” ”
Continuing her aggressive broadside on Panthic and Punjab issues in the Lok Sabha, Ms. Badal interrupted the Union Home Minister Amit Shah while he was making a statement on proposed new legislation on citizen’s rights. Ms. Badal wanted a categorical statement on how it would impact the fate of those already languishing in jails even long after completing their life imprisonment and whether the new legislation has any provisions with regard to the rights of these “Dharmi Bandi Singhs,” also referred to as Bandi Singhs
The Home Minister assured her that there would be concrete provisions to safeguard the legitimate rights of ordinary citizens as well as those in jails.
