Driving Naari Programme launched in Chandigarh
Jalandhar, Punjab BJP will be taking up the issue of “sympathetic and open minded review” of Black List of Sikhs with its central leadership and will pursue the issue further in its attempt to engage with the contentious issues of Punjab and Sikhs.
“The black list of Sikhs should be reviewed sympathetically and with an open mind to apply balm to the festering wounds. The party is ready to engage with the contentious issues in place of pushing these under the carpet,” said Punjab BJP President Kamal Sharma while speaking to TOI on Saturday.
“If we address these issues the peace can be long lasting in Punjab. Though atmosphere of the state is stable right now but it starts getting vitiated on small issues with such old and contentious issues remaining unaddressed. We wish to improve the peace and communal harmony a permanent feature of the state while handling these issues in place of running away from these,” Sharma said.
It may be mentioned here that it is for the first time that BJP is adapting such pro-active approach on the issue. In 2004 during NDA regime Rashtriya Sikh Sangat leader Rulda Singh had been lobbying for it and opened channels with NRI Sikhs also but he was later assassinated.
Earlier the Black List was reviewed after an order by Delhi high Court in February 2011 on a petition filed by Paramjit Singh Sarna led Delhi Sikh Gurudwara Managing Committee. However it had remained a contention as several NRI Sikhs had been denied visas afterwards also as the Black List has never been made public fully.
Meanwhile Sharma also said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi met a delegation of Sikhs during his US visit and feedback from there was also quite encouraging. “Punjab is a border state and strategically very important for the country and for our party national interests are paramount,” he said.
Turning towards the other issues he said that as most of the issues of Punjab were taken up in Rajiv-Longowal Accord these should be solved in its light. He reiterated that Chandigarh should be shifted to Punjab as per this accord and other issues should also be solved accordingly.
Though BJP’s alliance partner Shiromani Akali Dal has been demanding review of the black list but Punjab Police has also been maintaining a Black List notwithstanding the claims by the political establishment that Punjab did not have any black list.
