No need for Sikhs to fear: Meghalaya

Shillong

The Meghalaya Government today committed to the safety and security of all Sikh families living in the state, while announcing necessary measures to bring normalcy to the tension-ridden Punjabi Lane.

Terming the Sikhs living in the state their subjects, Meghalaya Home Minister James K Sangma said there was no need to fear terror outfit Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC), a defunct organisation run by a handful of persons from Bangladesh.

Sangma gave the assurance to Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh, with whom he spoke over the phone during his discussions with a high-level delegation from Punjab at his office here.

The Home Minister told the delegation that the security of Punjabi Lane had been stepped up and nearly 50 shops shut for several months would reopen soon as part of measures to restore normalcy. Sangma said the matter of ownership of the existing land held by Punjabis or their relocation was a complicated one that would require time to resolve.

The delegation, comprising Cabinet Minister Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, MP Jasbir Singh Dimpa, MLAs Kuldeep Singh Vaid and Kulbir Singh Zira, and Special Secretary, Planning, DS Mangat, is on a visit to Meghalaya to take up the issue of 350 Sikh families living in Punjabi Lane.

The local council had asked the settlers to vacate the houses. Though many families have been living there since 1863, they do not own property as under the existing laws, only those from the local Khasi tribe can own land.

Earlier, the delegation requested that the committee formed by the state must take into account all genuine concerns of the Sikhs.

The delegation thanked the state Home Minister for taking proactive steps to defuse tension while underscoring the need to guard against attempts by vested interest to lend a religious or parochial colour to the row. Randhawa handed over a letter by Capt Amarinder addressed to his counterpart Conrad Sangma. MP Dimpa also invited Sangma to Punjab.

Aiming for lasting solution: Sangma

No one will suffer injustice or be displaced illegally. A panel is looking into complex issue of lease, ownership for a lasting solution. We’re aiming for one-time solution to avoid recurrence of violence. — James K Sangma, Meghalaya HM