AAP, BJP join protesters at Jantar Mantar, as Sikh agitation enters fourth day
4 May 2013 4:19 PM IST
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Arvind Kejriwal, along with other party members, sat on a day-long fast at Jantar Mantar in support of one of the 1984 anti-Sikh riot victim Nirpreet Kaur, who has started an indefinite fast at the venue demanding justice for Sikhs. Nirpreet had lost her father during the 1984 anti-Sikh riots.
Along with Kejriwal, party colleagues Manish Sisodiya, Kumar Vishwas, Gopal Rai, Sanjay Singh and other AAP volunteers also staged a day-long fast. Many Sikh families were also present at the protest venue and shared their experiences, as they recalled the day they had lost their near and dear ones in the riot.
Nirpreet's demands are chargesheet related to FIR 87/87 be filed in court, criminal case be filed against Rajiv Ranjan, the police officer responsible for suppressing the chargesheet, formation of a SIT to probe the 1984 anti-Sikh riots and filing of an appeal in the High Court in which Congress leader Sajjan Kumar has ben acquitted by a trial court recently.
Pointing to a chargesheet, Kejriwal said, 'The victim and eyewitness in the case, Gurbachan Singh has already undergone two heart surgeries and is very frail.
Why has this chargesheet not been presented in court? Is it waiting for the main witness Gurbachan Singh to die so that the case can be brushed under the carpet? What is the use of a police that does not arrest an accused citing law and order problem?
'Rajiv Ranjan the police officer who suppressed the above mentioned chargesheet has now been promoted', said Kejriwal demanding filing of a criminal case against him immediately and constitution of an SIT to independently investigate into the case. He also demanded that an appeal should be filed in the present case where Sajjan Kumar has been acquitted in the High Court.
Supporting Nirpreet’s indefinite strike, Manish Sisodia said, Aam Aadmi Party would continue to support the fast till the 1984 riot victims get justice.
'We will extend all possible support to Nirpreet Kaur. We have appealed to all our volunteers to join the fast everyday in large numbers,' he said.
Meanwhile, former Delhi BJP chief Vijender Gupta had to leave the protest venue after people objected to his presence, alleging that his intentions were political.
He had reached the venue and sat on the dias along with Kejriwal. After sometime, some of the protesters objected to Gupta’s presence.
'Whenever two political parties share the same space, the atmosphere is sure to be sensitive. We have no political motive, we came as common people, not like Aam Aadmi Party members who are wearing their usual caps,' Gupta said, adding that he had come to extend his support and will come on Saturday as well.
When some BJP workers, who were accompanying Gupta, pointed out that the AAP leader was sitting on the dais, even though the protesters claimed that it was apolitical, Kejriwal announced he would sit along with other protesters.
However, after Gupta left, organisers requested Kejriwal to come on to the dais which he accepted. 'I have no political motive. We just want to tell the anti-Sikh riot victims that we are with them in their fight for justice,' Gupta said as he left the venue.
Along with Kejriwal, party colleagues Manish Sisodiya, Kumar Vishwas, Gopal Rai, Sanjay Singh and other AAP volunteers also staged a day-long fast. Many Sikh families were also present at the protest venue and shared their experiences, as they recalled the day they had lost their near and dear ones in the riot.
Nirpreet's demands are chargesheet related to FIR 87/87 be filed in court, criminal case be filed against Rajiv Ranjan, the police officer responsible for suppressing the chargesheet, formation of a SIT to probe the 1984 anti-Sikh riots and filing of an appeal in the High Court in which Congress leader Sajjan Kumar has ben acquitted by a trial court recently.
Pointing to a chargesheet, Kejriwal said, 'The victim and eyewitness in the case, Gurbachan Singh has already undergone two heart surgeries and is very frail.
Why has this chargesheet not been presented in court? Is it waiting for the main witness Gurbachan Singh to die so that the case can be brushed under the carpet? What is the use of a police that does not arrest an accused citing law and order problem?
'Rajiv Ranjan the police officer who suppressed the above mentioned chargesheet has now been promoted', said Kejriwal demanding filing of a criminal case against him immediately and constitution of an SIT to independently investigate into the case. He also demanded that an appeal should be filed in the present case where Sajjan Kumar has been acquitted in the High Court.
Supporting Nirpreet’s indefinite strike, Manish Sisodia said, Aam Aadmi Party would continue to support the fast till the 1984 riot victims get justice.
'We will extend all possible support to Nirpreet Kaur. We have appealed to all our volunteers to join the fast everyday in large numbers,' he said.
Meanwhile, former Delhi BJP chief Vijender Gupta had to leave the protest venue after people objected to his presence, alleging that his intentions were political.
He had reached the venue and sat on the dias along with Kejriwal. After sometime, some of the protesters objected to Gupta’s presence.
'Whenever two political parties share the same space, the atmosphere is sure to be sensitive. We have no political motive, we came as common people, not like Aam Aadmi Party members who are wearing their usual caps,' Gupta said, adding that he had come to extend his support and will come on Saturday as well.
When some BJP workers, who were accompanying Gupta, pointed out that the AAP leader was sitting on the dais, even though the protesters claimed that it was apolitical, Kejriwal announced he would sit along with other protesters.
However, after Gupta left, organisers requested Kejriwal to come on to the dais which he accepted. 'I have no political motive. We just want to tell the anti-Sikh riot victims that we are with them in their fight for justice,' Gupta said as he left the venue.
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