Govt looking into issues raised by SGPC: Rajnath to SAD

Ravi S.Singh

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, August 14

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday assured a delegation Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), led by its president Sukhbir Singh Badal, that the government is examining issues raised before it by the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC).

They include constituting of a special court for the day-to-day trial of 1984 anti-Sikh riot cases and commuting death sentence of terrorist Balwant Singh Rajoana to life sentence. He has been convicted in the former Punjab CM Beant Singh assassination case.

Union Minister Harsimrat Kaur, Gobind Singh Longowal and Manjit Singh (GK), SGPC and DSGMC presidents, respectively; MPs Naresh Gujral and Balwinder Singh Bhunder, and former MP Tarlochan Singh were other members on the delegation.

The delegation's meeting with Singh lasted for about an hour in his North Block office.

The meeting is a follow up to earlier two meetings of SAD delegations with Singh in the past one month. Singh had assured to hold a joint meeting of Sikh leaders and Home Ministry officials around Independence Day with regard the issues pertaining to the community.

The delegation batted for grant of citizenship to all Hindus and Sikhs who were forced to leave Afghanistan since 1989. It drew a distinction between illegal Bangladeshi immigrants in Assam, and those from Afghanistan who were forced to leave on ground of religious persecution.

Also, demand was made for free passage for devotees from Dera Baba Nanak located on the Indian side to the historical Gurdwara Kartarpur in Pakistan in view of the celebrations of 550th birth anniversary of the Guru in 2019. 

The delegation also sought the Centre's intervention with state of Jammu and Kashmir over minority status to Sikhs. They alleged that the community was being "discriminated" against in the state with regard fair representation in government jobs and schemes, even the Centrally-sponsored schemes regarding minorities.

Besides, Centre's intervention with the Maharashtra government for review of its decision to amend the Takht Sri Hazur Sahib Abchalnagar Sahib Board, Nanded Act was sought. The state government proposes to nominate six more members on the Board which was being opposed by the SGPC.

It also demanded rescinding of the amendment to law by the Chandigarh administration, which has made it mandatory even for Sikh women wearing turban or headgear to use helmets while riding a two-wheeler and ensuring security of Sikhs in Sikkim.