Chandigarh: The Punjab government and an action committee reached an agreement on the release of Lakha Sidhana and other leaders, along with several demands, during a five-hour meeting on Wednesday, the 23rd day of the ongoing agitation seeking justice for Parvinder Singh Jhotta.
The post-mortem and last rites will be conducted only after the release of the detained leaders. The planned protest outside the chief minister’s residence on November 5 has also been postponed.
The meeting was attended by Punjab assembly Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan, agriculture minister Gurmeet Singh Khudian and senior police officials.
Hardeep Singh Sidhu, media in-charge of the action committee, said the release of Lakha Sidhana and other leaders lodged in jail remained a major sticking point during the discussions. Despite reaching agreement on most other demands, the committee had refused to consent to the post-mortem and last rites without their release.
According to Sidhu, the meeting also agreed to grant approval within a week for a trauma centre in Khiala Kalan named after Jhotta.
The government further promised a time-bound, high-level inquiry into the role of concerned police and health department officials, along with a government job and compensation of ₹2 crore for Jhotta’s family.
