A Mother's Heart-Wrenching Plea: The Quest for a Son's Parole Amidst Failing Health

In a poignant appeal that underscores the deep yearning of a mother's heart, 95-year-old Balbir Kaur, bedridden and battling severe ailments, has turned to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. Her fervent request: the parole of her son, Kulbir Singh Barapind, a plea born from her deteriorating health and the profound desire to spend her final moments reunited with him.

Balbir Kaur's voice, though frail, carries the weight of a lifetime, now amplified by the stark reality of her advancing age and critical medical condition.

Partially paralysed and suffering from a multitude of ailments, she faces an uncertain future, clinging to the hope of seeing her son by her side.

Her plea has not gone unheard. Delhi BJP General Secretary Rekha Gupta has taken up her cause, penning a compassionate letter to CM Kejriwal. Gupta highlighted the humanitarian aspect of the situation, emphasizing Balbir Kaur's extreme age and fragile health.

She urged the Chief Minister to consider the mother's emotional distress and the son's fundamental right to be with his ailing parent, especially in her twilight years, and to perform her last rites should the inevitable occur.

Adding significant weight to the demand, Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Raghbir Singh has also thrown his support behind Balbir Kaur.

Citing the numerous instances where governments have shown compassion in similar circumstances, he underscored the humanitarian grounds for granting parole. His intervention brings a powerful religious and community voice to the appeal, stressing the importance of empathy and leniency.

Kulbir Singh Barapind, formerly identified as the chief of the Khalistan Commando Force (KCF), has a long and complex past, having been convicted in multiple TADA cases and serving a life sentence.

His history, however, is now overshadowed by the immediate, urgent need of his nonagenarian mother.

Barapind was previously granted a 28-day parole in May 2024 to visit his then-ailing mother. However, with Balbir Kaur's health continuing to decline rapidly, the family's fervent hope is for an extended period of release, allowing for a more sustained reunion and the chance for her son to provide comfort and care in what may be her last days.

This moving plea casts a spotlight on the broader issue of Sikh prisoners who have endured prolonged incarceration.

Balbir Kaur's struggle resonates beyond her personal tragedy, becoming a symbol for many who advocate for compassion and the consideration of humanitarian factors in the justice system, especially when faced with extreme personal circumstances.