CHANDIGARH, August 9: Former Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh today appealed to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi to consider the release of all those prisoners who have completed their sentence but are still languishing in jails, to mark the seventy-fifth anniversary of the freedom of the country.
“We are celebrating the 75thyear of our Independence and as a goodwill gesture, which is their rightful due otherwise also, let all those prisoners who have completed their sentence be released”, the former Chief Minister said in an appeal to the Prime Minister here today.
Capt Amarinder pointed out, even the Prime Minister Modi himself as also the Supreme Court of India from time to time have suggested that all those who have completed their prison terms should be released.
He also referred to some Sikh prisoners who have completed their sentences, but are still languishing in jails. “They have almost paid with their lives and now is the time to provide them reprieve which otherwise also they are legally entitled to as they have already completed their sentences”, he remarked.
The former Chief Minister pointed out, the Supreme Court of India had recently released late Rajiv Gandhi’s killer after 31 years in prison. If he can be released, why not those who have already completed their prison terms, he asked.
“Several Sikh prisoners are also languishing in jail even after having completed their prison term and it is the right time they are released”, he said, while observing, “there cannot be a better occasion than the 75thanniversary of the freedom of the country to set them free”.
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