Capt orders relocation of Heritage Street statues

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, January 28

Taking into account the sentiments of the Sikh community, Punjab CM Capt Amarinder Singh on Tuesday asked the Cultural Affairs Department to shift statues of folk dancers at Heritage Street in the vicinity of the Golden Temple to an appropriate place.

The statues, installed during the SAD-BJP regime, were vandalised by protesters on January 15. Taking a lenient view, the CM directed the DGP to review the cases registered against the seven accused and withdraw stringent Sections. “Their actions were not malicious but a reflection of the pain felt by the Sikh community,” he observed.

Following the January 15 incident, various Sikh organisation, including the Akal Takht, SGPC, Shiromani Ragi Sabha, Sri Guru Hargobind Sahib Shiromani Dhadi Sabha and Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar Committee, had come out in support of those arrested.

The Takht Jathedar has already set up a three-member committee to look for another site for the statues. The committee includes senior vice-president Rajinder Singh Mehta, SGPC chief secretary Dr Roop Singh, president of the Chief Khalsa Diwan Nirmal Singh and coordinator Sukhdev Singh Bhurakona.