Even as a woman protester continued an indefinite fast on Sunday, a group of Sikh protesters attempted to march towards Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s residence raising slogans against the acquittal of Congress leader Sajjan Kumar in a 1984 anti-Sikh riots case. The protesters were, however, prevented by the security men leading to a clash between the two sides.
Nearly 50 protesters were detained by the police. Massive protests against Kumar’s acquittal in Punjab led to disruption of train services. Over half a dozen trains bound to the national Capital were affected as protesters blocked the railway tracks at ludhiana and Rajpura. Railway officials said nearly 50 trains were regulated with delay of two to five hours.
The protesters gathered at Jantar Mantar in the Capital began their march towards 7, Race Course Road (RCR), the official residence of the Prime Minister, in the afternoon but were prevented by the policemen near the Parliament Street police station from moving ahead.
Shouting slogans against Congress leaders, some of the protesters had a scuffle with the policemen and tried to break the barricades. They were stopped by the police at the barricades and many of them were detained.
As a preventive measure, police had deployed a large contingent besides water canons. The protesters, who were detained, were later let off. The group went back to Jantar Mantar.
"Today we wanted to march to the PM's residence but we were stopped. Tomorrow, we will adopt a different strategy. We will fight till justice is met," said Manjeet Singh GK, president of Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee. Former Delhi BJP president Vijender Gupta, who was also present at Jantar Mantar to lend the support of his party, said, "The rights of the Sikhs have been denied. Even after so many years, justice could not be done. The way the police and the Government have tried to play with witnesses and evidences to hide the truth...Even the police's role seems to be suspicious. We fully support them (Sikhs). The Congress Government needs to give an answer," he said.