Badal demands SIT to probe anti-Sikh riots

Punjab chief minister and Shiromani Akali Dal patron Parkash Singh Badal on Wednesday asked the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee and Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee to jointly move the Supreme Court with a petition seeking directions to the Union government to form a special team to probe the 1984 anti-Sikh riots.

The decision was taken in an emergency meeting of SAD and DSGMC president Manjit Singh G K. The gurdwara committee will soon engage top Supreme Court advocates and file a petition seeking formation of the special investigation team.

The meeting was held in Kapurthala House after Badal met the President, seeking action against Congress leaders Sajjan Kumar and Jagdish Tytler.

Earlier in the day, SAD senior leaders, including its president Sukhbir Singh Badal, patron Parkash Singh Badal and Jathedar Akal Takht Giani Gurbachan Singh, went to Jantar Mantar and persuaded Nirpreet Kaur, a victim of the riots, to end her fast.

She was on fast for the past six days in protest against the acquittal of Congress leader Sajjan Kumar by Karkardooma court in a case that alleged his involvement in the anti-Sikh riots.

Jathedar Akal Takht asked Nirpreet Kaur to end the fast and continue the fight for her rights by other peaceful means. Jathedar told Nirpreet that many like her have been suffering since the riots. He said it is the duty of the Sikh panth to fight for their cause.