New Delhi, May 22: The Delhi Sikh Gurdwara management committee (DSGMC) on Wednesday announced of building a commemorative memorial in memory of those innocent massacred in anti-Sikh riots of November 1984. The memorial would come up in the sanctum santorum of Gurdwara Rakabganj Sahib adjacent to the Parliament house.

Subsequent to the approval from general house of DSGMC, its president Manjit Singh GK made a formal announcement. "It's a historic day for the Sikhs, when we have reached a decision to permanently establish a memorial in memory of 14000 plus Sikhs who were killed in November 1984 riots all over the country," said emotionally charged up GK, addressing packed media conference.

A committee comprising of Sikh scholars, historian and architect would be constituted soon to formalize the design and pattern of memorial, informed Manjit Singh GK. "The memorial would remember all those innocent killed in the riots and would also show respect to all the religions, would be symbol of humanity, compassion and universal brotherhood. The memorial would also act as balm on the wounds of those families whose innocent kin were brutally done to death and are still awaiting justice from the government as none of the perpetrators of riot have been punished despite incremental evidence," said GK answering queries from media. Referring to recent acquittal of congress leader Sajjan Kumar by a trail court who was accused of perpetrating anti-Sikh riots of 1984, DSGMC president Manjit Singh GK said that riots occurred during congress government in the centre and at present also it is the same party which is shielding their leaders accused in riots. "They (government) are not giving us justice, they are not giving us space to build memorial, so we were forced to take decision to build memorial in Gurdwara Rakabganj Sahib," announced DSGMC president. "As per government figures 2733 innocent Sikhs were killed during riots in national capital alone but actually over 4000 Sikhs were killed," pointed GK. Informing about proceedings of the general house meeting, DSGMC general secretary Manjinder Singh Sirsa said except three members belonging to Paramjit Singh Sarna led SAD-Delhi, the entire general house was unanimous about building memorial. "They have political bent of mind, and would oppose every constructive step taken by the DSGMC, we have no problem incase they have opposed the move but rest all members are unanimous," he adds. Asked about the time frame Sirsa said within two months blue prints of the memorial would be ready. He announced that before completion of 30 years of riots in November 2014, memorial would be ready. It needs mention here that in November 2012, Sirsa as councillor from Punjabi bagh area in west Delhi proposed in Municipal Corporation of Delhi to name a park as �1984 riot victim commemorative park' but the move was allegedly scuttled at the last hour by Delhi CM Sheila Dixit.

Answering a query, GK replied that there was no wrong in building memorials as there have been examples world-wide where religions and communities remember their martyrs and those innocent killed in the holocausts. "There is holocaust memorial in Berlin to remember killing of innocent Jews in World War II. In New York a memorial has been built to remember the innocent killed when twin tower were attacked," GK justifies DSGMC's move. All officer bearers of DSGMC, SAD leaders Balwant Singh Rammowalia and Avtar Singh Hit were also present. Former Rajya Sabha member Tarlochan Singh also attended the general house meeting as special invitee.