Punjab all geared up for 'bandh' against 1984 riots

Chandigarh, Nov 2 : The Punjab Government has made elaborate security arrangements in view of the one day state 'bandh' call given by various 'panthic' (Sikh) organisations to protest against the 1984 anti Sikh riots and the failure of the central government to give justice to the riot victims.

The 'bandh' call has been given by the Khalsa Action Committee (KAC), a conglomerate of various religio-political radical groups, the Dal Khalsa, various factions of the All India Sikh Students Federation (AISSF), the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) and various other organisations including certain factions of the Akali Dal.

The KAC has already made a fervent appeal to the people of all religions, race and creed to join the Punjab bandh.

However Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal has sent clear cut instructions to his officers to maintain peace at all cost.

"The people of Punjab are peace loving and they will not support any activity which would disturb the peace and tranquility of the state", he said in an informal chat with the media at the Golden Temple complex at Amritsar today.

Asked whether the government or his party, the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) supported the 'bandh', as the party's stand on the 1984 riots was akin to the stand of the Dal Khalsa and other radical groups, Mr Badal pointed out that there are various other ways of registering a protest.

"We can hold prayer meetings or perform 'ardas' at gurdwaras instead of trying to put the public to difficulty", he said while sending a clear cut message that the government intended dealing sternly with those who try to take the law in their hands.

--UNI

(c) 2009 Published with permission from United News of India.
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