Amritsar, Aug. 15 -- Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) president Harjinder Singh Dhami on Friday extended full support to the protest march being organised by the Qaumi Insaaf Morcha on August 15 from the morcha site in Mohali to the Governor House in Chandigarh, demanding the release of Sikh prisoners who have spent prolonged periods in jail. Dhami said it was a matter of serious concern that Sikh prisoners who had already served periods far exceeding their prescribed sentences continued to remain incarcerated. He cited the example of Balwant Singh Rajoana, Jagtar Singh Hawara, Jagtar Singh Tara, Paramjit Singh Bheora, Davinderpal Singh Bhullar and Gurdeep Singh Khera. He said the government had yet to take a decision on the commutation of Balwant Singh Rajoana's death sentence despite observations by the Supreme Court in the matter. Referring to Jagtar Singh Hawara, Dhami said his elderly mother was in critical health and that parole was being sought to enable him to meet her. "The government should take a compassionate decision on humanitarian grounds and allow him to meet his mother after a prolonged separation," he said. Meanwhile, Jagar Singh Hawara, who is serving life term for the assassination of former Punjab chief minister Beant Singh, released a video from Delhi's Mandoli Central Jail, requesting Sikh youth to participate in the Qaumi Insaaf Morcha in a peaceful manner. "Qaumi Insaaf Morcha has given a call for August 15. I request everyone to take part in that protest peacefully. Many people will try to create violence in that protest, but let us be careful about such elements," said Hawara in the video, whose veracity could not be independently verified by HT. The August 15 demonstration is also expected to draw wider political participation, with the Shiromani Akali Dal (Punar Surjit) announcing its decision to join the stir. htc...