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Akal Takht jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh addressing a meeting of Sikh organizations The Akal Takht issued a strong statement against the Bhagwant Mann government and the center over the Punjab police crackdown on separatist preacher Amritpal Singh, questioning why similar measures are not being taken against "those who demand Hindu Rashtra". Akal Takht jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh has given the state government a 24-hour ultimatum to release the young Sikhs arrested during the crackdown on the separatist preacher. He was addressing a gathering of Sikh organizations including intellectuals, lawyers, journalists, religious and social leaders to discuss the situation in Punjab.
The Akal Takht is the highest seat of authority of the Sikhs and its main spokesperson is Jathedar.
Asking why the strict national security law was invoked against those arrested for allegedly supporting Singh and his Khalistan lawsuit, he said: "There are thousands of people demanding Hindu rashtra. Those who call Hindu rashtra should also be booked. They should also be reserved under the NSA."
Chief Minister Mann said he has instructed state police to release people in protective custody if they are not found to be involved in anti-national activity. However, he said, strict action will be taken against anyone who tries to disturb the peace.
Punjab police said it had released 197 people out of 353 pretrial detainees.
The Akal Takht jathedar warned against any violent demonstrations, saying that if the arrested youths are not released, "we must not become aggressive but respond to them diplomatically." He said they would go to the High Court for the release of the detainees.
He said that Akal Takht will address this issue nationally and globally after Baisakhi. "We will tell them what they are doing to us," he said.
He also targeted news channels that were allegedly smearing Sikhs. Claiming that investigative agencies and news channels are creating a "narrative", Jathedar Akal Takht said: "Hate propaganda made by news channels. We must book the news channels. Information Are we terrorists?
In an earlier statement, Akal Takht asked Amritpal Singh to appear before the police and cooperate in the investigation. He had also questioned the competence of the police, wondering why they had not been able to catch him until now.
