AMRITSAR – In a significant decision, the recently constituted General House of Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) in its maiden meeting held on Wednesday unanimously adopted a resolution to erect a peace memorial in memory of victims of 1984 anti Sikh riots in Gurdwara Rakabganj complex, adjacent to Parliament House , Delhi. The proposal was floated in the house by president of DSGMC Manjit Singh GK which was unanimously approved amidst slogans of Bole So Nihal .
However three members owing allegiance to Paramjit Singh Sarna led Shiromani Akali Dal (Delhi) opposed the proposal. The DSGMC had specially convened Wednesday’s general house session to discuss over single agenda of peace memorial. Talking to TOI, Manjit Singh GK said “It’s a historic day for the Sikhs, when we have reached a decision to permanently establish a memorial in memory of 14,000 plus Sikhs who were killed in November 1984 riots all over the country . He said as per government figures 2733 innocent Sikhs were killed during riots in national capital alone but unofficial figure crosses over 4,000 mark.
An irate mob in 1984 had also attacked the Gurdwara Rakabganj Sahib and killed a father son duo performing Sewa (voluntary service) of drinking water near the main gate , the crowd had also attempted to set ablaze the main gate of Gurdwara but the attempt was thwarted by the devotees and Gurdwara staff. He said a committee comprising of Sikh scholars, historian and architect would be constituted soon to formalize the design and pattern of memorial.
DSGMC general secretary Manjinder Singh Sirsa said the memorial would also act as balm on the wounds of those families whose innocent kin were brutally done to death and are still awaiting justice from the government as none of the perpetrators of riot had been punished despite incremental evidence.”They ( Congress government) are not giving us justice, they are not giving us space to build memorial, so we were forced to take decision to build memorial in Gurdwara Rakabganj Sahib complex,” said Sirsa.
