Amritsar, Punjab: Various Sikh bodies today called for a Punjab Bandh (Punjab shut down) on November 1 in protest against successive Indian governments’ failure to provide justice to victims of Sikh genocide 1984.
Karnail Singh Peermohammed, Manjeet Singh Bhoma, Kanwarbir Singh Gill and Bhai Mohkam Singh said Badal-BJP government must act against the perpetrators of 1984 genocide, besides initiating measures for rehabilitation of the victims.
They said the Badal Dal leaders were earlier taking a premise that there was a Congress government at the Centre, but now that the NDA had come to power, they must deliver justice to the victims. Karnail Singh Peermohammad said the Badal Dal must spell out the deadline by which their government would act against the guilty. They also asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to act tough against those who carried out massacre of Sikhs in 1984.
Karnail Singh Peermohammad, Bhai Mohkam Singh, Bibi Jagdish Kaur and others addressing media persons during press conference
Talking about Punjab Bandh call on November 1, he said it would be a peaceful protest. He said that AISSF and other organizations would stop rail traffic from 5 am to 10 am. Road traffic and commercial establishments would also remain shut.
They appealed to all communities to support the bandh call as it was meant to seek justice for the victims of November 1984 massacres. They said their aim was to seek justice, and not to harass anybody.
On a US court issuing summons to Amitabh Bachchan for his alleged role in the 1984 massacres, they hailed the court move and said they even had the evidence to show how the actor incited people against the Sikhs in 1984. They said a protest would be staged outside the UN headquarters on November 7 and the issue of 1984 riots would be raised with the UN.
Meanwhile, BJP leader Laxmikanta Chawla has appealed to the state government to ensure that the rail and road traffic was not disrupted during Punjab Bandh on November 1. She said it would only lead to harassment of public, although the grudge of those giving the bandh call was against the government.