UPDATE: 2013-12-27
SRI AMRITSAR, PUNJAB - Bhai Gurbaksh Singh officially ended his "hunger strike" at Sri Akal Takht Sahib after hearing news that Bhai Lakhwinder Singh and Bhai Shamsher Singh were furloughed on temporary restrictive parole after days of bureaucratic delay. Meanwhile, two other prisoners, Bhai Gurdeep Singh and Bhai Wariyam Singh still remain behind bars.
Initially, during private negotiations with the Jathedars and the Sant-Samaj, Bhai Gurbaksh Singh had announced that he had agreed to end his "hunger strike" as long as one more Singh from Burail prison was released.
However, after leaving Gurdwara Amb Sahib, and on route to Sri Akal Takht Sahib, he announced that he would end his "hunger strike" only and only after all six Singhs (Bhai Gurmit Singh, Bhai Shamsher Singh, Bhai Lakhwinder Singh, Bhai Lal Singh and Bhai Gurdeep Singh, and Bhai Waryiam Singh) were released, and the "morcha" would continue.
Since his original announcement of suspending his "hunger strike" in Mohali, there has been a lot of commotion in Panthic circles regarding the inconsistent and often conflicting statements issued by Bhai Gurbaksh Singh on when he would actually conclude his "hunger strike." The debate on temporarily parole versus full release (ਰਿਹਾਈ) also continues.
In the meantime at Gurdwara Amb Sahib , Mohali, SGPC employees swiftly dismantled the make-shift morcha site set up by Bhai Gurbaksh Singh and his supporters leaving behind no evidence that any agitation had taken place here for the last several weeks.
PREVIOUS UPDATE: 2013-12-25
Abrupt Ending of Amb Sahib Morcha after Commandeering by Jathedars and Sant-Samaj
MOHALI, PUNJAB - Bringing his "morcha" to a chaotic end, Bhai Gurbaksh Singh's announced that he would call off his "hunger strike" at Sri Akal Takht Sahib in the next two days.
The sudden decision, which was made after several closed-door meetings between Gurbaksh Singh, Giani Gurbachan Singh, Giani Mal Singh, Jasbir Singh Rode, and Baba Sukhchain Dharampura caught everyone by surprise, including his key advisers Satnam Singh Paonta, and Bhai Amrik Singh Ajnala and others.
Earlier today a meeting was also held between Bhai Gurbaksh Singh and Harnam Dhumma, the head of the Damdami Taksal Mehta and president of the Sant Samaj. It was reportedly Dhumma's first visit to the morcha, which was launched on November 14th, 2013.
Bhai Gurbaksh Singh had publicly vowed to continue his hunger strike until death, unless Bhai Gurmit Singh, Bhai Shamsher Singh, Bhai Lakhwinder Singh, Bhai Lal Singh and Bhai Gurdeep Singh, and Bhai Waryiam Singh were released from prison, and reiterated that "Either the Singhs will be release, or I will say my final Fateh."
Although none of the Singhs have been truly "released" from prison, in recent days, Lal Singh and Gurmeet Singh have been temporarily furloughed from jail on a restricted parole, the other four Singhs are still lodged in their respective prisons. Lal Singh has been on parole several times in the past also.
Giani Gurbachan Singh, while speaking to the media, stated that the rest of the Singhs would eventually be paroled in due time so Bhai Gurbaksh Singh did not need to continue his hunger strike and thanked Akali Dal Badal and the Sant-Samaj for making these "releases" possible.
The mysterious manner in which this "morcha" is being concluded is quite bewildering, and in turn raises a lot of questions about how this entire agitation was orchestrated by Bhai Gurbaksh Singh's advisers and then allowed it to be commandeered by the pro-Badal Jathedars and Sant-Samaj.
PREVIOUS UPDATE: 2013-12-24
CHANDIGARH, PUNJAB - Protesting the delay in the release of the three Singhs lodged at Burail Jail in Chandigarh, Bhai Gurbaksh Singh has temporarily moved his protest near the outskirts of the maximum security prison facility. His health continues to deteriorate and is reported to be suffering from bouts of pneumonia due to the cold weather.
In the meantime, on Tuesday, Giani Gurbachan Singh, along with Giani Mal Singh and three Sri Harmandir Sahib Granthis, Giani Jagtar Singh, Giani Ravel Singh, and Giani Maan Singh met at Sri Akal Takht Sahib and issued an "Aadesh" (decree) instructing Bhai Gurbaksh Singh to end his hunger strike immediately.
Interestingly, the Jathedars from the three other Takhts (Takht Sri Patna Sahib, Takht Sri Hazur Sahib, and Takht Sri Damdama Sahib) did not participate in this meeting.
PREVIOUS UPDATE: 2013-12-21
After Release of Bhai Lal Singh, Bail Process Started for Singhs Lodged in Burail Prison
CHANDIGARH, PUNJAB - According to press reports, after the release of Bhai Lal Singh on temporary bail, authorities are putting into place the paperwork for the bail of the three Singhs lodged at Burail Jail, namely Bhai Shamsher Singh, Bhai Gurmit Singh, Bhai Lakhwinder Singh.
The fate of Bhai Varyiam Singh (held in UP) and Bhai Gurdeep Singh (held in Karnataka) is still unclear.
