NEW DELHI: Prominent Sikh leaders here have threatened to boycott the Independence Day and hold a massive rally on that day to Voice their protest against the Central Government’s attitude to the welfare of the community.
Addressing a convention at the Majnu Ka Tilla Gurdwara on July 31, Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee President and Akali leader Manjit Singh Calcutta demanded that the Center should remove three prominent Congress leaders, H. K. L. Bhagat, Sajjan Kumar and Jagdish Tytler from the posts they were occupying “because of their role in the 1984 riots.”
Calcutta said all those involved in the demolitions in Majnu Ka Tilla Gurdwara recently should come to the gurdwara and seek pardon and also give a public apology. If the Government does not comply with these demands by August 14, the Sikhs will boycott the Independence Day celebrations by wearing protest badges and boycotting the functions as well as holding a massive rally here on that day,” he said.
“Let me make it clear. We are not anti-Indian. We are anti-Government because it is not allowing the Sikhs to live with dignity. The freedom gained in 1947 was actually for a few people, the people of India have not yet go It.” said the Sikh leader.
The Naib Imam of Jana Masjid. Syed Ahmed Bukhari, who attended the congregation to express his and Muslims solidarity with the Sikh community, said the two communities should untidily fight the Congress and the BJP.
Speaker after speaker assailed the Central Government’s treatment of the Sikhs. Widows and other victims of the 1984 riots find that no justice is done year after year, said they expect us to put up smiles and observe all the national functions, they said.
This is not democracy, it is an autocratic rule. They had no shame then and they have shown i shame now,” he said.
Article extracted from this publication >> August 5, 1994
