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Sheila gheraoed by crowd in Tilak Vihar

Staff Reporter

Sikhs demand Sajjan Kumar's expulsion from the Congress

NEW DELHI: Even before the Nanavati Commission report on the 1984 Sikh riots is tabled in Parliament, the issue seems to be generating heat in the Capital. Indicating the growing public anger over the issue, a large crowd gheraoed the Chief Minister, Sheila Dikshit, on Thursday demanding expulsion of the Outer Delhi Member of Parliament, Sajjan Kumar, from the party and his arrest for his alleged involvement in the anti-Sikh riots.

Sensing the anger among the people of the area who had gathered in large numbers with stones, water bottles and black badges tied around their heads, Mr. Kumar did not turn up for the function. Others present at the function included the Delhi Health Minister, Yoganand Shastri, local MLA, Dayanand Chandela, and the Councillor, Dhanwanti Chandela.

The protest was organised by the Labana Sikh Biradari Panchayat that had warned against Mr. Kumar being invited for the inaugural ceremony of an Old Age Home at the Harijan Colony in Tilak Vihar. They also demanded that Mr. Kumar's name be removed from the plaque.

As soon as the Chief Minister arrived at Tilak Vihar to inaugurate the Old Age Home, the crowd surrounded her demanding that Mr. Kumar's name be deleted from the plaque and he be expelled from the Congress. Ms. Dikshit tried to cool tempers and sought to address the issues raised by the people. By this time, the crowd had started surging and the police took positions in anticipation of trouble.

Mr. Kumar, however, skipped the function.

Ms. Dikshit assured the crowd that she would look into their grievances regarding supply of contaminated water and frequent power cuts in the area.

According to Mr. Chandela some in the crowd were even seen carrying kerosene oil threatening self-immolation. However, the police intervened and controlled the protestors. The Sikh leaders also submitted a memorandum to Ms. Dikshit. Later, the crowd removed Mr. Kumar's name from the plaque.

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