Sikhs protest Kamal Nath's presence in US

New York, Apr 9: Protesting against Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways Kamal Nath's presence in US, 100 Sikhs under the banner 'Sikhs For Justice' took out "Justice Rally" on Thursday, Apr 8, outside McGraw-Hill's headquarters in Manhattan where Nath was addressing the Global Construction Summit.

The organistation had filed a petition in the US Federal Court accussing Nath of instigating the mob during the 1984 anti-Sikh riots.

"We want to put him behind bars. Anyone guilty should be behind bars," said Avtar Singh Pannu of Queens, the group's coordinator.

The organisation's attorney, Gurpatwant S Pannun said that Nath "a violator of human rights who led the mobs that torched Gurudwara Rakab Ganj Sahib and in which many Sikhs were burnt alive," should not be allowed to be in US.

Holding out banners which read 'Stand for Justice' and 'Demanding Justice', including a black inner tubes to symbolise the tires that were burned during the riots, the protestors took to the street to voice their protest.

"We want to create awareness within ourselves and the international community and embarrass Kamal Nath and the people who invited him here," said Ranjit Singh, former president of Sikh Youth of America.

On Apr 7, the US court issued a summon to Kamal Nath in connection with the 1984 Anti-Sikh riots case following a petition filed by Sikhs For Justice.

Kamal Nath had expressed shocked on the summon, especially since it was filed 25 years after the incident.

"For the last 25 years I wasn't involved...suddenly in 2010 I get involved...There was nobody who stood up and said that he was a victim or that I was in any way connected. So I'm surprised and appalled," he had said.

OneIndia News