Akalis, SGPC offer prayers, seek justice for riot victims

Chandigarh, Nov 8 : Punjab's ruling Shiromani Akali Dal and the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) leadership Sunday kept up the pressure to seek justice for victims of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots in the country and led people in offering prayers for the victims.

The Akali Dal and SGPC had asked people from all religions to offer prayers Sunday for victims of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots. They had announced Sunday as ‘Ardas Diwas’ (prayer day).

Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal offered prayers at a gurdwara in Greater Kailash-II in New Delhi Sunday.

Akali Dal president and Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal offered prayers at the Dukhniwaran Sahib gurdwara in Patiala city, 70 km from here.

The SGPC, the mini-parliament of Sikhs that manages Sikh shrines across Punjab, organised prayers at various gurdwaras, including the Golden Temple complex in Amritsar, 260 km from here.

The Akalis are demanding that those guilty of instigating and leading riots against Sikhs in the aftermath of the assassination of then prime minister Indira Gandhi by her two Sikh bodyguards at her residence in New Delhi Oct 31, 1984, should be punished.

“Victims of the 1984 massacre have not got justice in the last 25 years. We want the guilty to be punished. The Congress is trying to shield them,” Sukhbir Badal said.

--IANS