What has come as a welcome relief to the deeply troubled poor Sikhs of Shilling residing in the Punjabi Lane -Harijan Colony of Shillong, India’s National Commission for Minorities has ordered stay, the Scheduled Castes Commission has mooted for investigation and enquiry and Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa has vowed to take up the matter with India’s Home Minister and Meghalaya Chief Minister, while strongly opposing forcible eviction of Shillong Sikh settlers. The Harijan Panchayat Committee has appreciated and welcomed support from all quarters. WSN reports.

Taking suo-moto cognisance of news reports, the National Commission for Minorities in its order dated 8 October 2021, has ordered the stay of the Meghalaya government recommendation based on the recently released report of the High- Level Committee of the government instituted in 2018 and the report submitted on 28 September 2021.

The order states, “The Commission has taken suo-moto cognizance of the news reported in the print media regarding the decision of the State government (of Meghalaya) to shift the employees of Shillong Municipal Board (SMB) and other departments of the government of Meghalaya from the Harijan Colony and to find an alternative location for relocating the “illegal settlers.”

The newly-appointed  NCM chief Iqbal Singh Lalpura has issued categorical instructions saying, “…. the Commission has directed the Chief Secretary of Meghalaya to furnish a detailed report and to maintain status quo in the matter as directed by the Hon’ble High Court of Meghalaya.”

Speaking exclusively to The World Sikh News, Harijan Panchayat Committee secretary Gurjit Singh said, “While we are reeling under the pressure of the utterances and actions of the High-Level Committee of the Meghalaya government for the past three years, it has come as a matter of great relief that governmental institutions have responded with support for the poor Sikhs of Shillong, residing in the Punjabi lane for the last more than 200 years.”

The Meghalaya High Court at Shillong has passed orders for status quo and the matter is under consideration of the Supreme Court of India, still, the Conrad Sangma-led government, after consideration of the High-Level Committee report in a cabinet meeting, has ignored these and has announced that they will take possession of the 2.5 acres of the land within a week. 

The Harijan Panchayat Committee, on behalf of the hundreds of families living from hand to mouth in the Punjabi Lane area, which was earlier a nondescript area, but now has become a prime area, in a press note, released late evening, has expressed relief at this order.  

It is reliably learnt that the National Commission for Minorities has summoned the government of Meghalaya, with full records on 15 October 2021. 

Speaking to the media, Harijan Panchayat Committee secretary Gurjit Singh said, “We are grateful to Minorities Commission, Scheduled Caste Commission, Punjab government and Sikh bodies -DSGMC and SGPC, Shiromani Akali Dal, United Sikhs and all other volunteers, activists and leaders who have stood by us in this hour of great difficulty, when we struggle to save our dwellings and livelihood.”

It is reliably learnt that the National Commission for Minorities has summoned the government of Meghalaya, with full records on 15 October 2021. 

For the poor Mazhabi Sikhs of the Bara Bazar area, who have been running from pillar to post, knocking on the doors of all governmental organisations, this is a God-sent development.

“The Scheduled Castes Commission has decided to investigate/inquire into the matter in pursuance of the powers conferred upon it under Article 338 of the Constitution of India.”

The Harijan Panchayat Committee is glad to note that the National Commission for Scheduled Castes, has also taken suo-moto cognizance of the taking up of the High-Level Committee report by the Meghalaya government and “the Commission has decided to investigate/inquire into the matter in pursuance of the powers conferred upon it under Article 338 of the Constitution of India.”

The National Commission for Scheduled Castes has solicited detailed information, failing which the Commission would summon the representatives of the Meghalaya government.

Continuing to maintain his interest in the lives and welfare of the Sikhs of Shillong, the Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, who has visited Shillong twice since the illegal move of the Meghalaya government to relocate the Sikh settlers in 2018, has told a section of the media that “I strongly oppose the attempts to relocate Sikhs in Shillong and I will take up this matter with the Union Home Minister Mr Amit Shah and the Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma.”

“The Punjab government has intervened in the past and will intervene again, he warned. 

“It is the duty of the Harijan Panchayat Committee to protect the lives and rights of the poor Sikhs of Shillong and we will do so at all costs and will not allow the High-Level Committee to have their illegal way,”

Similarly, DSGMC president Manjinder Singh Sirsa has promised full logistical support as they have been giving for the last three years. 

“It is the duty of the Harijan Panchayat Committee to protect the lives and rights of the poor Sikhs of Shillong and we will do so at all costs and will not allow the High-Level Committee to have their illegal way,” said HPC secretary Gurjit Singh.

“We hope and pray that the government’s Commissions will take this matter to its logical conclusion and save the poor Sikhs of Shillong,” added Gurjit Singh.