Meghalaya ''unhappy'' with Punjab for sanctioning relief for Shillong Sikhs: Minister

Shillong, December 16

The Meghalaya government was “unhappy” with the decision of the Punjab cabinet approving Rs 60 lakh compensation to the Sikh community residing here who were affected during the June riots, a state minister said Sunday.

Meghalaya Urban Affairs Minister Hamletson Dohling urged the Punjab government to reconsider the cabinet decision to grant the relief to the affected Sikh community in Shillong and said it would “add more fuel to the fire” as the state government is trying to solve the issues amicably.

“We are unhappy with the decision and we request them (Punjab government) not to add fuel to the fire,” Dohling told PTI.

The Punjab Cabinet had earlier this week approved the proposal for providing Rs 60 lakh as compensation to the Sikh community against damage caused to their properties during violence in Shillong in June earlier this year.

Of the Rs 60 lakh sanctioned by the Punjab cabinet, Rs 50 lakh is earmarked for reconstruction of Khalsa Middle School as the building was declared unsafe. The rest of the amount would be given to Sikhs whose shops and truck were damaged in the riots.

Dohling said the high level committee appointed by Meghalaya government headed by deputy chief minister Prestone Tyngsong is taking into consideration all aspects of the case and is trying its best to solve the issues amicably.

The Meghalaya Urban Affairs Minister said, “The decision is nothing but to mislead the people of the nation because not a single stone was thrown at the school or the gurdwara during the protest in June.”

He claimed that the Meghalaya police had handled the situation and all efforts are on to end the problems there (Punjabi lane) once and for all.

Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma will soon speak to his Punjab counterpart in this regard, he said.

Clashes erupted when a bus driver and his friend were attacked at the Punjabi Lane area and they received injuries.

As rumours of the assaulted victims dying in hospital spread on social media, local people grouped together and went to attack the residents following which the entire area was put under curfew for over a month. — PTI