Sikh memorial in US removed after protest

Norwich (Connecticut), Oct 20

About three months after a ‘1984 Sikh Genocide Memorial’ to the Sikhs victims of the 1984 riots was installed at Otis Library here, the memorial was removed following a request from the Indian Government. The memorial featured a prominent photo of Khalistani leader Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale.

“Otis Library and the Norwich Monuments Committee jointly agreed to remove the plaque, flags and portrait,” Nicholas Fortson, president of the library Board of Trustees, told the Norwich bulletin. It was removed about two weeks ago, he said.

Swaranjit Singh Khalsa, the city’s Sikh community leader and a local business owner, said he opposed the decision. “It’s not an Indian-held territory. The (Sikh) community is very upset,” he claimed. He said the memorial was a rare chance to present the “Sikh narrative” of what happened in 1984. He is planning an event on November 9 outside the City Hall. “We should still continue with our narrative,” Khalsa said.

After the memorial was unveiled in June, the library received “harsh criticism as well as support.” — PTI