Badal takes out march over 1984 anti-Sikh riots

Hundreds of Akali Dal activists led by party President Sukhbir Singh Badal and his wife and Union Minister Harsimrat Kaur on Saturday took out a protest march in the national capital seeking justice for the families of those killed in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots.

The march began at the Gurdwara Rakab Ganj near Parliament House and snaked its way to Jantar Mantar before being stopped at the Press Club of India.

A group of activists did manage to reach near the Janpath residence of former Congress President Sonia Gandhi and burn effigies of Congress leaders accused of excesses against Sikh community during the 1984 anti-Sikh riots.

At Rakab Ganj Gurdwara, Sukhbir accused the Congress of being responsible for the killing of Sikhs in 1984 and protecting the accused.

“The Akali Dal has come for justice. Justice has not been done for the past 34 years. The accused have been given poll tickets by the Congress,” he said.

“Thousands of Sikhs were massacred, several women were raped and several people lost their homes. Such atrocity is a blot on the history of India. No one received justice. Why is judiciary not taking suo-motu action,” Harsimrat asked.

Delhi Police officials detained the Badals and the Akali Dal activists who were released later.