The Sikh community of AP holds demonstrations over Sarabjit Singh's brutal killing, and Sajjan Kumar's acquittal in the 1984 riots case.
On Friday, the Sikh community of Andhra Pradesh held strong demonstrations over the brutal killing Sarabjit Singh in a Pakistani jail.
The Sikhs also protested over the acquittal of former Congress MP Sajjan Kumar in the 1984 Sikh riots case.
Hundreds of Sikh members gathered near the Gurudwara Guru Singh Sabha at Ashok Bazar, Afzalgunj, with banners and placards, and raised anti-Pakistan and anti-government slogans, against Sarabjit Singh's killing. They also set ablaze an effigy of the Pakistan government.
"The Centre has failed to initiate effective diplomatic steps to check the harassment of Indian prisoners in jails of Pakistan," the general secertary of Guru Singh Sabha, S Inderjeet Singh Tuteja, said.
He said the Centre must ensure the safety of all Indian nationals languishing in Pakistani jails.
"Previously, Indian prisoner Chamel Singh was killed in a similar manner," he said, adding that Indian prisoners were not safe in Pakistan's jails.
The protesters demanded a probe into the matter by an international organisation.
Members of the Sikh community also burnt an effigy of 1984-riots-accused Sajjan Kumar, and raised slogans against him and the Congress. They also demanded action against others accused in riot cases, including Congress leader Jagdish Tytler, who is accused of instigating a mob that led to the murder of three men in a Gurdwara in North Delhi on November 1, 1984.
"After 30 years, we are yet to get justice. The government should feel ashamed. We will never forget and forgive those who allowed culprits to go scot free. We want justice," Gurudwara president S Kuldeep Singh Bagga said.
The protesters termed Sajjan Kumar's acquittal as an "injustice" to the Sikh community in the country.
"Injustice has been done to us. The judgment has shown that Sikhs are second-class citizens of the country," Singh said.
"Over 3,000 Sikhs were killed on the roads of Delhi - they were brutally murdered, their houses were burnt down," he said, adding that the judgment has shocked the entire Sikh community, who was hoping for justice.
"We will fight back. We want justice. We don't have any faith in the Congress government", he said.
"The hearts of all Sikhs are weeping over the judgment," Tuteja said. (INN)