1984 riots were 'Sikh genocide': Akal Takht
A meeting of five Sikh high priests today decided the 1984 anti-Sikh riots would now on be referred to as "Sikh genocide" by all members of the community, media and other organisations around the world. HT Correspondent reports.
A meeting of five Sikh high priests in Amritsar on Wednesday decided the 1984 anti-Sikh riots would now on be referred to as "Sikh genocide" by all members of the community, media and other organisations around the world.
Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh, who issued the advisory after the meeting at the Takht, also appealed that every Sikh must support the organisation Sikhs for Justice, which was fighting to get justice for the victims of the 1984 killings.
He said: "The mass killings of Sikhs during the 1984 riots across the country have been given different names over the years. But these killings were no less than 'Sikh genocide', and Sikhs all over the world, media and other organisations must use this expression for the 1984 riots."
The jathedar also appreciated the US-based Sikhs for Justice for its work done to get justice for those killed 26 years ago. He added the entire Sikh community must also fight for ensuring punishment for those behind the "genocide".
The other decisions taken by the high priests included directions to mobile phone companies to use the word "Gurbani shabad" while referring to religious ring tones and not "song".
Akal Takht also appealed to the Sikhs in New York that they must form a committee to get legal opinion for resolving a dispute over a gurdwara in that city.
The jathedar appealed to the Jammu and Kashmir government to punish the accused involved in the killing of 35 Sikhs in Chittisinghpura village in Anantnag in 2000.
