SGPC Urges Meghalaya Govt Not To Relocate Sikh Settlers

Shillong, June 14, 2019:

The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee(SGPC) wrote a letter to Meghalaya Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong urging the Meghalaya government not to relocate the Sikh settlers from Bara Bazar (Them ïew Mawlong) in Shillong.

The SGPC stated that the Sikh families have been residing in that area for more than 150 years and relocation will cause many disturbances.

SGPC in its letter to Tynsong state, “It is not out of place to mention that past year riots and untoward incidents took place, for which the Government assured that nothing unlawful or illegal will take place. However, it is again in the news and the work in full swing to relocate and remove the Sikh families from Bara Bazaar area is taking place.”

Reportedly, the ministry of home affairs has summoned the Meghalaya government to discuss the issue.

The Deputy CM said, “Relocating the settlers does not mean throwing them out. Meghalaya government wants to remove the problem the families are facing once and for all, and relocation has to take place.”

He also mentioned that the government is determined to find a permanent solution to the long pending issue since settlers in the area are living in a horrible condition as the place is congested and very unhygienic.

Whereas, according to the SGPC relocation would be “injustice by the governmental agencies under the banner of High-Level Committee”. It added, “Even the 30 years is a limitation and term for taking any action of possession by the Government as per Indian Laws of the land. Thereafter even if the possession of the person is adverse, no action without due process of law can be taken by the Government.”

The SGPC, headquartered at Amritsar, urged Meghalaya Deputy CM to intervene into the issue on humanity ground. It urged him to issue suitable directions to local administration for not taking any unlawful step or illegitimate action so as to dispossess/ dislocate/relocate/remove the local Sikh families from their respective houses.

The Sikh body threatened that relocation “may call for untoward incidents” and create “law & order situation”.

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