On Thursday, Akal Takht acting Jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh said that crackdown on the people dissenting amid the farmers’ stir is worrisome and dangerous.

In a written statement, he said, “The people who have dissenting opinions and do not agree with the government are being detained and arrested in large numbers in the country. The trend is worrisome.”

“Freedom of speech and expression is an important part of democracy and arrests against this freedom are against the ethos of the democracy,” he said.

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The Jathedar further said, “This is very shameful that cases are being registered against those who speak against the government, under serious charges of sedition and Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA). This trend is deadly for democracy. Adopting uncivilized and violent means to stop anyone from exercising freedom of speech and expression is inhuman.”

He also asked those who like democratic ethos to come forward to save the life, ethics, & ethos of democracy. “Keeping silent will lead to suicidal consequences. These consequences will prove to be very dangerous in the coming days,” he said.

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Giani Harpreet Singh has been a prominent voice of protests against the dubious and discriminating actions of the centre. For example, last year, he had specifically pointed out to GOI that blaming the Sikhs and Muslims for the spread of the Covid19 was not right.