The union government's move to depute former Congress MP and President of Judo Federation of India Jagdish Tytler as a head of Indian delegations to London Olympics had called widespread condemnation from Sikh bodies across the state.
While Shiromani Guruduwara Prabhandhak Committee President Avtar Singh Makkar had written a protest letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh seeking the reversal of the decision, the All India Sikh Students Federation (AISSF) President Karnail Singh Peermohammad had even approached British High Commissioner to India James Bevan demanding the ban of Tytler and other tainted personalities' entry in London.
"How can government play with the sentiments of millions of Sikhs around the globe? A person responsible for Sikh's genocide is being deputed as the country's representative in London, it is totally unacceptable. We condemn this act in strong words and have written in this regard to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh seeking reversal of this step," said Avtar Singh Makkar.
"We urge state government also to take this issue at government level too as this move has hurt the sentiments of already wounded Sikh community. Let him be free from Dasuya elections, we will meet him in this regard," he added.
Karnail Singh Peermohammad, President of AISSF stated that "allowing Tytler to lead the National Squad during 2012 London Olympics will bring Indian democracy into bad repute because of his involvement in organizing and leading attacks on Sikhs which is widely known to the international community.
Instead of sending Tytler behind bars for his crimes, he is being sent to UK to represent in an international event, which gives a clear message of the government that perpetrators of November 1984 will never be punished and they will keep on getting favours in form of one form or another."
"We will lobby with the British Government to deny entry to Tytler and Gill who were expected to participate in the upcoming Olympics like they did recently by refusing to Syrian Chief of Olympics in similar manner," he added.
State Bhartiya Janta Party chief Ashwani Sharma too flayed the move. When contacted he said, "We are strictly against what happened in 1984 especially in Delhi. The government should refrain for sending tainted personalities like Tytler on such reputed platforms, especially when the issue related to sentiments of Sikhs. It is not like that there is dearth of personalities to represent the country so some other option should have considered by the government."
{{/usCountry}}State Bhartiya Janta Party chief Ashwani Sharma too flayed the move. When contacted he said, "We are strictly against what happened in 1984 especially in Delhi. The government should refrain for sending tainted personalities like Tytler on such reputed platforms, especially when the issue related to sentiments of Sikhs. It is not like that there is dearth of personalities to represent the country so some other option should have considered by the government."
{{/usCountry}}If the union government failed to change its decision we would launch world-wide stir to show our protest in the due course of time, said Makkar.