New Delhi: Taking her fight over the false claims made by the Shiromani Akali Dal leaders over rehabilitation of 1984 anti-Sikh riot victims a step further, Dr. Navjot Kaur Sidhu, Chief Parliamentary Secretary (CPS), Health and Family Welfare, Punjab, recently met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and apprised him about the injustice being done to the riot hit.
Dr. Sidhu had been critical of the SAD Government’s alleged misappropriation of Rs. 440 crore allotted by the Centre to rehabilitate 1984 anti-Sikh riot victims, and reportedly wants the Bharatiya Janata Party to snap ties with SAD in Punjab.
Dr. Sidhu and a delegation, including Sukhpreet Singh Malhotra (Convener Sikh Cell, BJP) and Jagdeep Singh Sodhi (Secretary of BJP’s Punjab unit) called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on the evening of March 1. The Prime Minister was reportedly informed about fake names being added to the list of 1984-riot victims in connivance with some SAD leaders.
The delegation discussed the ground realities in Punjab. Dr. Sidhu also voiced concerns over the reported growing distance between the Punjab Government and public.
Dr. Sidhu also reportedly talked about prospects of contesting the forthcoming Assembly elections along with alliance partner Akali Dal.
Malhotra brought to the notice of the Prime Minister how the situation in Punjab is worsening, and stressed upon strengthening Hindu-Sikh unity in the state that has existed for a long time. He also reportedly received an assurance from the Prime MInister that issues concerning the Sikh community would be looked into.
The then Union Government sanctioned Rs. 2 lakh compensation per Sikh family and a lump sum payment of Rs. 440 crore was made to the SAD Government in 2006. Of the 22,000 riot-hit Sikh families that came to the state, 15,000 stayed in Ludhiana.
Prime Minister Modi applauded the efforts and dedication of these leaders, and assured them of every help from his Government for the welfare and prosperity of Punjab.
Dr. Sidhu also called on Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar and raised the issue of the army’s restriction around the Vallah ammunition dump, and sought his assurance to resolve the issue.
The immediate cause of the Punjab BJP’s irritation is the statement made by Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGM) president and SAD’s Delhi unit chief Manjit Singh GK.
Manjit Singh GK had recently accused the NDA government of having ‘the same mindset as the Congress on the issue of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots.’
Sources close to Dr. Sidhu informed that the iconic cricketer-turned- commentator Navjot Singh Sidhu may leave the BJP and contest the Punjab elections under the banner of a new party if the alliance with SAD is not ended. (ANI)