Written by: Express News Service
3 min readNew DelhiJun 13, 2013 03:27 AM IST
First published on: Jun 13, 2013 at 03:27 AM IST
In the presence of key political and religious leaders,the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) on Wednesday laid the foundation stone of a proposed 1984 anti-Sikh riots memorial at Rakabganj Gurdwara.
With a High Court hearing scheduled later in the day,the ceremony was advanced and completed an hour before the time fixed for the ceremony.
DSGMC president Manjit Singh said Jathedar of Takht Kesgarh Sahib Giani Tarlochan Singh laid the foundation stone after performing an ardas,while Jathedar of Akal Takht Giani Gurbachan Singh unveiled the foundation stone. Political leaders who attended the ceremony included BJP president Rajnath Singh,Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj,Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal.
According to Manjit Singh,the memorial was dedicated to all victims of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots in Delhi. “This memorial will forever remain a reminder of the injustice to the Sikh community in the 1984 riots. With this,we hope to inform the younger generations of the miscarriage of justice,” he said.
SAD (Badal)-ruled DSGMC promised the memorial after taking control of Delhi’s highest Sikh body from the Congress-backed SAD (Delhi) in January this year.
With Assembly elections scheduled for November this year,Congress leaders said the move was “political” and aimed at the sizeable Sikh vote in the city.
SAD (Delhi) chief and former DSGMC president,Paramjit Singh Sarna,also moved the High Court seeking a stay on construction of the memorial.
After the ceremony,Sukhbir Singh Badal said the memorial was strictly an issue for the Sikh community. “This is a historic decision by the DSGMC to remember the victims and families of Sikhs who suffered in the 1984 riots,” he said. Referring to the petition in the High Court,Badal alleged that Sarna was working at the behest of the Congress party.
Following the announcement of the memorial last week,the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) had issued notices to the DSGMC,warning of action. But,senior DSGMC officials maintained that plans for the memorial were yet to be finalised.
“The blueprint is still not ready,it could be a fountain or a garden. We have assured the NDMC that no rules will be flouted,” Manjit Singh said.
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