'Build a memorial for innocent killed during militancy in Punjab'

Congress spokesman Sukhpal Khaira has asked the SAD-BJP government to consider constructing a befitting memorial for 25,000 innocent people killed in Punjab during terrorism, as a mark of respect to humanity, irrespective of caste, colour, creed or religion. Khaira was addressing mediapersons here on Saturday.

Congress spokesman Sukhpal Khaira has asked the SAD-BJP government to consider constructing a befitting memorial for 25,000 innocent people killed in Punjab during terrorism, as a mark of respect to humanity, irrespective of caste, colour, creed or religion. Khaira was addressing mediapersons here on Saturday.

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"The memorial can be on the pattern of "The National September 11 Memorial and Museum" built in New York, USA, to commemorate the September 11, 2001, attack," Khaira said.

"Now that the SGPC has constructed a memorial in the memory of those killed in Operation Bluestar within the precincts of Darbar Sahib and the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) has laid the foundation stone for a memorial for the victims of 1984 anti-Sikh riots at Delhi, it would be befitting, justified and honourable for the SAD-BJP to construct a memorial for those 25,000 innocent civilians, policemen and leaders of different political parties, who laid down their lives for the nation," Khaira added.

"Our party has no objection on the memorials being built by SGPC and DSGMC, but what about the sacrifices made by the 25,000 innocent people killed during the terrorism era, that included Sikhs, Hindus, Muslims, Christians and of other communities," Khaira added.