Haryana govt should protect Sikhs in state: Sukhbir Badal

Sirsa, July 26 (UNI) Asserting that every state should ensure the safety and security of the minorities, Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) acting president Sukhbir Singh Badal said Haryana must protect the Sikhs living in the state.

Mr Badal stated this while talking to reporters here after visiting the Sikhs who were injured in a clash with Dera Sacha Sauda followers in Mallewala village in the district recently.

He was accompanied by SAD leaders Prem Singh Chandumajra and Balwant Singh Bhundar.

He said as many as 16 people were hired for the attack on Sikhs in Mallewala but only two people had been arrested. ''This has given rise to a sense of fear and insecurity among the Sikhs living in Haryana.'' He also demanded withdrawal of all cases against Sikhs in connection with Ghukanwali incident where Sikhs had clashed with Sacha Sauda followers after Dera chief Gurmit Ram Rahim Singh made an unscheduled halt while coming back from Rajasthan.

Mr Badal said a case should be registered against Dera chief instead, who was the cause of provocation behind the incident.

The SAD leader earlier visited the local civil hospital and distributed cheques worth Rs 5000 each to the Sikhs injured in the Mallewala clash.

UNI