100 days milestone: Foundation of 1984 memorial on June 12

Exactly on hundredth day in office on Wednesday, Manjit Singh GK led Delhi Sikh Gurdwara management committee (DSGMC) finalised a decision to lay foundation stone of November 1984 Sikh genocide memorial on June 12.

Title of memorial was also changed by replacing “carnage” with “genocide”. General secretary Manjinder Singh Sirsa announced the change in title. “Why not call it genocide when thousands of innocent Sikhs were mercilessly killed in planned manner,” he raised a question, justifying change in name.

Five head priests of Sikh panth, would lay foundation stone in the Gurdwara Rakabganj Sahib complex, few meters from parliament house. It has been so planned that parliament house country’s seat of power would be in the backdrop of the memorial, and from inside the parliament memorial would also make a clear view.

“We would not go beyond security norms of the area. The memorial to be built using stone, cement and steel would not be more than 22 feet in height,” adds Sirsa.

Leader of opposition in Lok Sabha belonging to BJP Sushma Swaraj and BJP president Rajnath Singh have agreed to attend. DSGMC is also roping in leaders of different hues. Mulayam Singh Yadav, Ram Bilas Paswan, Brinda Karat are expected to join foundation stone.

“Even congress leaders can join us, if they really feel for the Sikhs,” quipped DSGMC president Manjit Singh GK speaking about the program. He alongwith other office bearers took over on February 26.

Punjab chief minister and SAD patron Parkash Singh Badal, and deputy CM Sukhbir Singh Badal, would also attend the event. Father-Son duo must be getting sense of elation that their party has got some positive response from the Sikhs outside Punjab, especially Delhi.

Taking over the reins of DSGMC from Paramjit Singh Sarna, after a gap of 12 years, Shiromani AKali Dal-Badal’s team is restless and aggressive, to fulfil “commitment” to the Sikhs, which they say was ignored for a decade.

“The high profile area in Delhi needs no introduction though, but from now onwards it would be known for another landmark, keeping alive the pain Sikhs suffered in 1984,” mentioned Manjit Singh GK. Memorial would be completed in 2014, completing 30 years of 1984 genocide, he hoped.

In 100 days the new body represented before the central government for clemency to Devinder Pal Singh Bhullar who is on death and staged protests after acquittal of congress leader Sajjan Kumar who faced allegations of perpetrating anti-Sikh riots.

Subsequently it was assured that CBI would move Delhi court to challenge his acquittal by the trial court. The committee also claims of implementing nanakshahi calendar, free education to third generation of the riot victims and has also decided to approach Supreme Court seeking directions for constitution of special investigation team to reinvestigate 1984 anti Sikh riots. The committee also announced shagun scheme of Rs 51000 on marriage daughter of DSGMC employees.