M A I N   N E W S

Akal Takht comes to riot widows’ rescue
Tribune News Service

Amritsar, February 14
In a belated initiative, Akal Takht today came to the rescue of Sikh women who were widowed in Delhi riots in 1984.

Earlier a widows’ jatha had threatened that two of its members would commit suicide on February 16 as they were “disillusioned” by the Sikh clergy.

After 19 years of the massacre of Sikhs, Akal Takht today directed the SGPC, the Delhi Gurdwara Management Committee, the Singh Sabhas and other Sikh organisations to make liberal donations towards the cause of the widows.

In a press note, issued here today, Giani Joginder Singh Vedanti, Jathedar, Akal Takht, admitted that there was some “communication gap” which resulted in the plight of the widows. Ironically, the “lack of coordination”, which was pointed out by Jathedar Vedanti, continued for about two decades. Earlier the widows’ jatha had alleged that they were humiliated by the Jathedar when he had passed “sarcastic” remarks about their plight. Again, the Jathedar had avoided meeting a deputation of the widows’ jatha two days ago despite the fact that they had fixed an appointment with him.

The press note urged the widows not to take the extreme step of committing suicide as it was not sanctioned by Sikhism. Jathedar Vedanti said it was the duty of the entire Sikh panth to properly look after the widows. He said the Sikh panth had passed through a crucial juncture when Akal Takht was demolished in June 1984 and members of the Sikh community were massacred later.