Won’t yield to pressure, mulling legal option: Shillong Sikhs

GS Paul

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, October 22

Amid imminent eviction, nearly 350 Sikh families residing in Shillong stood to fight their own battle of existence against the Meghalaya Government’s move to dislocate them and take possession of their land, apparently for commercial purposes.

Contempt of HC orders

Any intervention by any office will be the contempt of the orders of the Meghalaya High Court, which on April 9 issued directions to maintain status quo from both sides. The court has told the authorities categorically that the Harijan Colony residents should not be disturbed. — Gurjit Singh, Secy, Harijan Panchayat Committee

The dispute revolves around 2-acre plot on which the Punjabi Lane (Harijan Colony) is established, where they reside since their ancestors were brought in by the British in the 19th century. They claim that they were “gifted” the land by the Syiem (chief) of the area then. In modern era, this spot has turned out to be a multi-crore commercial hub.

All efforts by the SGPC, DSGMC and the Punjab Government to shield the affected families proved to be a futile exercise. Stating that they will not succumb to any pressure, the Harijan Panchayat Committee (HPC), which represents the Sikh community members there, have conveyed to the Deputy Commissioner of East Khasi Hills that there should be “no intervention” by the district authorities as the matter was sub judice with the Meghalaya High Court and the Supreme Court.

HPC secretary Gurjit Singh said: “We will proceed legally. Any intervention by any office will be the contempt of the orders of the Meghalaya High Court, which in its orders dated April 9 has directed to maintain status quo from both sides. The court has told the authorities categorically that the Harijan Colony residents should not be disturbed.”

He said despite this, the state Cabinet took the decision on October 4 “to evict the Sikhs living in Shillong”, based on a recommendation made by a high-level committee (HLC) headed by Deputy CM Prestone Tynsong. The government agreed upon rehabilitation of those families who were employed with the Shillong Municipal Board (SMB), but their count is just 20. The rest were termed as “outsiders” with no right.

Gurjit said neither the Sikh bodies nor the Punjab Government could help them. “Except for a few meetings with the Meghalaya Governor or leaders, which end with false assurances, nothing concrete has been done to safeguard the victims’ interests,” he said.

Punjab Deputy CM and Home Minister Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa had visited them twice with a delegation. “I have written to Home Minister Amit Shah about their cause, but he never cared to respond. We are helpless. The Meghalaya Government never cared about the National Minority Commission’s directions of not disturbing the Sikh families,” he said.

SGPC president Bibi Jagir Kaur said a delegation visited and met Meghalaya authorities in this regard earlier, but it did not yield results. “Soon, we will approach the Union Home Ministry again,” she added.