Minorities panel team to meet Sikhs attacked in Bhuj

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, January 27

A team of the National Commission for Minorities would visit Gujarat for three days beginning February 1 to look into the problems being faced by Sikh farmers in the state.

Following a land dispute last week, over 20 Sikh farmers were attacked at Loria village near Bhuj by the locals allegedly linked to the ruling party. One of the farmers, Jagjit Singh, had sustained serious injuries.

Commission member Ajaib Singh said he would reach Ahmedabad on February 1 and meet the Gujarat Chief Secretary and other officials concerned. He said he would subsequently visit Bhuj where Punjabi farmers had been living for the past several decades. Speaking to The Tribune on phone from Gujarat, a farmer said none of those behind the attack had been arrested so far. He said the police, on the contrary, were on the hunt for Punjabi farmers, who too had been booked.

Cong targets SAD, BJP

Punjab Congress chief Partap Singh Bajwa has condemned the Gujarat government for “not protecting” the Punjabi farmers from the land mafia. He also slammed Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal for allegedly failing to come to the rescue of the Sikhs settled in Gujarat.

Bajwa said when Prime Minister Narendra Modi was the Chief Minister, Gujarat had filed an appeal in the Supreme Court against the relief given by the High Court to these farmers. He said despite the Akali Dal being an ally of the BJP, the issue was far from resolved. “With the minorities constantly under attack, the worst fears about the BJP coming to power at the Centre are turning out to be true,” he said.

Congress leader Rajinder Kaur Bhattal said it was “unfortunate” that the Centre and the BJP government in Gujarat had failed to take note of the attacks.

Will raise issue with Gujarat CM: Badal

Dhuri: Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal has said he would take up with his Gujarat counterpart Anandiben the attack on Punjabi farmers at Loria village near Bhuj on January 24. Speaking at a Sangat Darshan programme here on Tuesday, he said all efforts would be taken to ensure the problems of the Sikh farmers were redressed. He said he was yet to get complete information about the attack.