New Delhi, India (November 13, 2012): It is learnt that Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal) activists staged a demonstration outside the residence of Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit on November 10, 2102. The activists reportedly protested against the decision of Delhi Government to stall the naming of a park as that was to be named as memorial for the victims of November 1984 violence against Sikhs.
The park in front of Gurdwara Tikana Sahib at Punjabi Bagh was expected to be dedicated to victims of Sikh Genocide 1984 on November 4 by the South Delhi
Protest at Delhi by Badal Dal (November 10, 2012)
Municipal Corporation (SDMC), but was cancelled at the last minute by the Commissioner allegedly at the behest of the Chief Minister.
While leading the demonstration, Badal Dal Delhi unit president Manjit Singh G. K. said that Sikhs were “quite anguished and pained due to the Delhi Chief Minister’s decision of stalling the long awaited setting up of a memorial for the the victims.
Delhi Police reportedly used water canons to spread the demonstrators.
It is notable that Badal Dal is once again leaning it’s activities towards Sikh issues, while it has shifted it’s political agenda from securing political rights of Sikhs to Indian state favoured agendas of Punjabiyat and development.