AMRITSAR-Shiromani Akali Dal leader Bikram Singh Majithia has launched a sharp attack on Aam Aadmi Party leaders Arvind Kejriwal and Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, accusing them of adopting “double standards” on the long-pending issue of Bandi Singhs.
In a strongly worded statement, Majithia alleged that AAP leaders who had previously opposed or delayed relief for Sikh prisoners were now attempting to project themselves as sympathetic towards their cause for political reasons.
“Actions speak louder than words,” Majithia said, arguing that the Sikh community should judge political leaders on the basis of their records and decisions rather than their latest public statements.
Majithia specifically referred to the case of Prof. Davinder Pal Singh Bhullar. He alleged that when Arvind Kejriwal was Delhi Chief Minister, his government deferred a decision concerning Bhullar’s release, and questioned how the AAP leadership could now claim to be sympathetic towards the demands concerning Bandi Singhs.
The SAD leader also targeted Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann over the issue of Bhai Jagtar Singh Hawara’s parole. Majithia claimed that a Punjab Jail Department file dated February 19, 2026, carried a “Non Recommendation” regarding Hawara’s parole.
According to Majithia, the position reflected in the alleged departmental file is inconsistent with the Punjab government’s subsequent public appeal for parole on humanitarian grounds. He questioned why the government’s administrative position and political messaging appeared to be different.
Majithia also raised the case of Balwant Singh Rajoana, arguing that the issue of Bandi Singhs should not become a political instrument for any party. He alleged that political leaders who had consistently opposed relief or failed to take meaningful action were now attempting to use the issue for political advantage.
“The Sikh community has seen the files, heard the statements and remembers the actions,” Majithia said, stressing that the issue concerns justice rather than political publicity.
The SAD leader maintained that Bandi Singhs require a transparent and consistent approach from governments rather than what he described as political drama. He called upon the Punjab government and AAP leadership to explain their past decisions and present positions on the cases of Sikh prisoners.
The controversy comes against the backdrop of continuing demands from sections of the Sikh community for a consistent policy on the release, parole and commutation of sentences involving Bandi Singhs. The issue has remained politically and emotionally significant in Punjab, with successive governments facing questions over their handling of individual cases.
Majithia’s latest intervention is likely to intensify the political debate over the AAP government’s position on Sikh prisoners.