Chandigarh, Oct 28 (IANS) Various Sikh organisations, including Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC), Wednesday announced they would support the call for a Punjab shutdown Nov 3 to mark 25 years of anti-Sikh riots.
“All educational institutions and other offices falling under the management of DSGMC would remain close on Nov 3 to pay homage to thousands of innocent Sikhs who were killed 25 years ago on this day,” said Parmjit Singh Sarna, the president of the DSGMC in a statement.

The shutdown call was given by radical Sikh organisations Dal Khalsa and Khalsa Action Committee, to protest the killings of thousands of Sikhs 25 years ago.

Indian prime minister Indira Gandhi was assassinated by her Sikh body guards Oct 31, 1984. The assassination led to widespread rioting against Sikhs across the country.

Manjit Singh Calcutta, chairman of Shiromani Panthic Council, said: “The massacre of Sikhs is a big blot on the face of India’s so-called secularism. Though 25 years have passed but the country’s justice system has failed to bring the perpetrators to book.”

In a separate statement Shiromani Gurdwara Parbhandhak Committee (SGPC) executive member Karnail Singh Panjoli too backed the shutdown call. He said his party has always been on the forefront struggling against the “highhandedness” of the Congress.