Cong has agreed to accept 5 long-standing demands of Sikhs: Sarna

With barely a week left for the Delhi Assembly elections, Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committe president Paramjit Singh Sarna today said the Congress has assured to accept the Sikhs' five long-standing demands, including mercy to death convict Devinder Pal Singh Bhullar, and he appealed to the community to throw its weight behind the party in the November 29 polls.

At a news conference here, Mr Sarna said other demands include enactment of Anand Marriage Act, citizenship to those Sikhs who migrated from Afghanistan to India and restoration of the land acquired of Gurdwara Majnu Tila Sahib, which is left after construction of the ring road.

Bhullar is convicted and sentenced to death in the 1993 case pertaining to an assassination attempt on then Youth Congress president Maninderjit Singh Bitta.

''Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit has talked to UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Mrs Gandhi assured the former of accepting the demands of the Sikhs,'' Mr Sarna added.

Asked whether any timeframe had been given to them for accepting their demands, Mr Sarna said,'' Right now, the party is busy in the elections. After the assembly elections, Lok Sabha polls will come.

But our demands will be met as soon as possible, this is what I have been assured.'' ''And now they have assured to accept in principle our demands, I appeal to the entire community to support the Congress in the Delhi Assembly polls. We are not asking for any seats or other things. Our prime concern is related to the demands of the community and we want nothing more, nothing less,'' he concluded.

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