Unfazed by the criticism, the Delhi Sikh Gurudwara Management Committee (DSGMC) on Wednesday laid the foundation stone for the memorial of 1984 anti-Sikh riot victims at Gurdwara Rakabganj Complex in New Delhi.
Notwithstanding New Delhi Municipal Corporation’s notice, the stone was laid in the presence of BJP national president Rajnath Singh, and Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) chief and Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal.Besides, Jathedars of five takhats (temporal seats), head priests of Sikhs, senior leaders of BJP and SAD, along with the presidents of Amritsar-based Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) and Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) took part in the ceremony.
An obvious tense atmosphere was experienced before the foundation stone was to be laid with large number of Sikhs carrying swords guarding the site and movement of every person was closely watched. Except senior leaders, and media persons, no one else was allowed to go inside.In a strategic move, the DSGMC decided to pre-pone the event by an hour in an apparent attempt to ensure that the stone be laid on Wednesdaybefore the Delhi High Court could issue any direction on the plea of former DSGMC chief Paramjit Sarna.
SAD (Delhi) president Sarna has sought court’s intervention to stop the construction of the memorial on the ground that erecting memorial inside Gurdwara complex was against the basic tenets of Sikhism. “We held our scheduled function in advance and had begun ceremony at9.30 am and laid the foundation stone by 10 am,” said DSGMC president Manjit Singh GK. DSGMC is erecting the Memorial dedicating the same to those who lost their lives in Sikh carnage in November 1984.The foundation stone laying ceremony was coincided with the martyrdom day of Sikh’s fifth Guru Arjan Dev, resulting in the presence of a large number of devotees also during the event.
The foundation stone was unveiled by the Sikh head priests - Jathedar of Damdama Sahib Takht Giani Balwant Singh Nandgarh, Jathedar of Akal Takht Giani Gurbachan Singh and Jathedar of Takht Shri Keshgarh Sahib Giani Tarlochan Singh. Erecting the memorial was the promise of the SAD (Badal) made before the DSGMC election, held in January this year. “We have fulfilled our promise,” said Sukhbir after the ceremony.
Was killing innocent Sikhs not illegalIJ, Sukhbir
“Wasn’t the killing of innocent Sikhs illegal,” reacted Sukhbir Badal when the media asked him regarding the NDMC’s notice to the DSGMC calling construction of the foundation stone for the memorial as illegal. Notably, NDMC served notice to the Committee last week objecting over four feet high brick platform constructed to be unveiled as foundation stone of the memorial.
Sukhbir added, “Justice was denied to the families of innocent Sikhs killed in 1984 riots for past 29 years and now the Congress party led government in Delhi is making attempts to stall construction of the memorial.” DSGMC chief Manjit Singh GK said: “No illegality has been done and DSGMC would take all permissions from the NDMC before starting construction of the memorial.”
Not bowing to any pressure: DSGMC chief
“We have not bowed down before any pressure and will continue with the project of erecting the memorial,: said DSGMC president Manjit Singh. He said that within a month’s time, the DSGMC would finalize the design of the memorial and it would be ready before the 30th anniversary of 1984 anti-Sikh riots in 2014. “The construction work of the memorial would be carried out by professional architects,” he added.
The Guest list
BJP national president Rajnath Singh
leader of opposition in lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj
SAD chief Sukhbir Badal
Bathinda MP Harsimrat Badal
SGPC chief Avtar Singh Makkar
SAD MP Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa
SAD MP Naresh Gujaral
BJP’s Delhi unit president Vijay Goyal
Former chairman of minorities commission Tarlochan Singh
DSGMC general secretary Manjinder Singh Sirsa
Delhi HC refuses to stay memorial’s construction
Delhi High Court on Wednesday declined to grant stay on the construction of a memorial at Gurudwara Rakabganj Sahib complex after the NDMC maintained that legal action will be taken soon if they go ahead with the project in violation of the statute. However, the Court issued a notice to Delhi government, NDMC, Delhi Development Authority, DSGMC and its president Manjit Singh GK seeking their replies by July 17 on former DSGMC president Paramjit Singh Sarna’s plea to stop the construction as they have not got approval of competent authority.