Rahul Gandhi, Vice President, AICC paying tributes Sarabjeet Singh at his native Village Bhikhiwind today. Partap Singh Bajwa, MP and President, PPCC, Preneet Kaur, Union MOS External Affairs, Sh. Vijay Inder Singla, MP, O.P. Soni, Vice President, PPCC, Fateh Jang Singh Bajwa, General Secretary PPCC are also seen in the picture.
Bhikhiwind (Amritsar), May 3, 2013: Rahul Gandhi AICC Vice President accompanied by Partap Singh Bajwa President Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) today paid tributes to Sarabjeet Singh who succumbed to a brutal attack in Pakistan jail here at his cremation in native village.
Rahul Gandhi stayed with the aggrieved family for about half an hour and offered condolences to Dalbir Kaur sister of Sarabjeet Singh. He assured full support to the family.
Bajwa said that martyrdom of Sarabjeet Singh would not go waste. He said that demise of Sarabjeet Singh had jolted the whole nation. He consoled the sister, wife and daughters of Sarabjeet Singh. He said that Pakistan had violated human rights.
Others who attended the last rites of Sarabjeet Singh included Gulchain Singh Charak member working committee AICC, Harish Chaudhary secretary in charge Punjab, Union Minister of State for External Affairs Preneet Kaur, Vijayinder Singla MP, O. P. Soni vice president PPCC and Raj Kumar Verka vice chairman SC commission.
Bajwa a statement also appealed to SAD-BJP government not to politicise the sacrifice of Sarabjeet Singh. PPCC thanked the Congress high command and UPA government for extending support to the family of Sarabjeet Singh and for making continues efforts to secure his release. Dalbir Kaur sister of Sarabjeet Singh was in constant touch with the UPA government and she was facilitated at every step in her efforts to seek release of her brother.
PPCC president said UPA government was seeking release of Sarabjeet Singh on humanitarian grounds. Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh was assured by the former President Pervez Musharraf during their meeting in New York in 2005, on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly that he would look at the question of clemency to Sarabjeet Singh in a humanitarian way. The matter was also taken up with the Pakistan President during his visit to India in March 2008.
Bajwa said that High Commission of India, Islamabad also assisted his sister Smt. Dalbir Kaur, his wife and two daughters during their visit to Pakistan from April 23-29, 2008. On April 24, 2008, the Government of Pakistan allowed the family to meet Sarabjeet Singh in Kot Lakhpat Jail, Lahore. His sister again visited Pakistan in June 2011, the High Commission interceded with the Pakistan authorities for arranging her meeting with Sarabjeet Singh in the jail.
He further said that following the reports about alleged poisoning and mental torture of Sarabjeet Singh by officials in Kot Lakhpat Jail, the High Commission of India, Islamabad again requested the Government of Pakistan for special consular access for Sarabjeet Singh.
Bajwa said that on April 26 Indian Mission started receiving reports of an attack on Sarabjeet Singh in Kot Lakhpat Jail (Lahore). "Our Mission immediately contacted the Pakistan MoFA and demanded immediate consular access. The two-man consular team has remained stationed in Lahore since April 26", he added.
Bajwa said that Pakistan initially agreed to grant only two family members visas. On intervention by External affairs ministry, Pakistani high commission in New Delhi was finally prevailed upon to grant visas to all 4 members of the family who had expressed desire to travel to Pakistan.
Bajwa said that it was unfortunate that Sarabjeet Singh was attacked when center government was expecting his release from Pakistan jail. He said that lawyer of Sarabjeet Singh reportedly filed another mercy petition with President of Pakistan on May 29, 2012. The decision of the President of Pakistan on these petitions was still pending.
