Massive Response to Petition Calling for Jathedar Hawara’s Release


File Photo: Jathedar Jagtar Singh Hawara

NEW YORK CITY, USA—A petition launched two days ago demanding the release of Jathedar Bhai Jagtar Singh Hawara has been endorsed by over 20,000 signatures.  Jathedar Ji, who is currently detained in Tihar Jail, New Delhi, was appointed as the head of the Akal Takht Sahib, the temporal authority of the Sikhs.
The petition is seeking President Barrack Obama to seek the release of the Jathedar from India.  Petition states, “On Nov 10, Bhai Jagtar Singh Hawara, was elected as the supreme religious leader of 30 million Sikhs and Jathedar of Akal Takht.”
The petition further states, “Jathedar Hawara is undergoing imprisonment until death – a sentence which flouts the fundamental principles of justice and continuous detention of supreme religious leader will create discontentment in Sikhs.”
Jathedar Jagtar Singh is facing extreme health deterioration and unable to stand for long due to problems in his back.  Despite orders by the Supreme Court, he has not been provided with medical investigation.  The petition highlights that similar to the treatment of previous religious figures of the Sikhs, including Jathedar Kaunke, Bhai Hawara too faces threat to his life.
Jathedar Jagtar Singh is facing life sentence in the assassination case of former Punjab Chief Minister Beant “Singh” which was carried out to in a response to an ongoing genocide throughout Punjab. Chief Minister Beant who was the head of the Congress party, and was responsible for the killing of over 100,000 civilians.  Although Jathedar Jagtar Singh was not involved in the actual assassination, he is alleged to be the mastermind.