Chandigarh, May 26 (IANS) The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) on Tuesday strongly criticised the parole granted once again to Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, accusing the Haryana government and the Centre of adopting double standards in dealing with prisoners and sacrilege-related cases.

Ram Rahim, who is serving his sentence in Sunaria jail in Haryana’s Rohtak, was recently granted 30 days of parole. The move has triggered sharp criticism from the SGPC, with committee member and senior advocate Bhagwant Singh Sialka saying the repeated parole to the Dera chief has deeply hurt Sikh religious sentiments.

Speaking to IANS, Sialka said repeatedly granting parole to a person whose name has surfaced in cases linked to the desecration of Guru Granth Sahib, and who is serving sentences in serious criminal cases, including rape and murder, raises serious questions over the intentions of both the state and central governments.

He alleged that Ram Rahim and several people associated with his dera had figured in sacrilege-related investigations, but despite that, governments continued to extend special treatment to him. Sialka also claimed that several political parties had earlier targeted the Akali Dal but were now showing leniency in Ram Rahim’s case.

He further alleged that the transfer of cases linked to Ram Rahim from Faridkot to Chandigarh was part of a planned strategy. According to him, special legal provisions were made, and even rules related to sentencing were altered, while ordinary prisoners were not given similar treatment.

Calling it a clear case of “double standards”, Sialka said that while several Bandi Singhs who have completed their sentences were still awaiting release, those convicted in grave criminal offences were repeatedly being granted parole.

Referring to Balwant Singh Rajoana and other Bandi Singhs, he said the SGPC would continue its struggle for their release. He added that the issue had also been raised with Union Home Minister Amit Shah, but no concrete decision had been taken so far.

–IANS

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