Victims’ kin stage dharna outside Sidhu’s residence
Seek govt jobs, say will sit on same track on Dussehra day
AMRITSAR : Nearly a year after Amritsar train tragedy that killed 61 persons, kin of the victims on Saturday staged a dharna outside the residence of Congress MLA Navjot Singh Sidhu seeking justice and government jobs as promised to them.
The accident had taken place near Jaura Phatak here in Sidhu’s constituency (Amritsareast) on October 19. As many as 140 people were injured when a DMU mowed down revellers watching burning of Ravana’s effigy during Dussehra function on the railway track near the phatak. Sidhu and his wife Navjot Kaur Sidhu were chief guests in the function. Sidhu was local bodies minister when the accident took place.
At 11 am, around 45 members of the victim’s families gathered outside the residence of Sidhu and tried to meet him, however, they were told by the security guard that they could meet Sidhu only once the office opens and staff join work.
Alleging neither justice was served in the incident nor the promises made to them were fulfilled, they sat down outside the gate of Sidhu’s residence and raised slogans against the former local bodies minister.
“Three inquiries have been carried out so far to fix responsibility, but no action has been taken against anyone yet. Neither an FIR was registered against anyone. Saurabh Madan, organiser of Dussehra function, is responsible for the accident, but he is scot free,” said Deepak Kumar, who lost his father in the accident and was leading the protesters.
‘SIDHU DID NOT KEEP PROMISE OF ADOPTING VICTIMS’ FAMILIES’
He said, “Promise was made to us that government jobs will be given to one of the members of the victims’ families, but no one has got the job yet.
Sidhu had also announced to adopt the families which lost their breadwinner, but he did not keep his words. He had identified eight families for giving them a pension of ₹8,000 per month, but only two families are getting the amount.”
Around 3.00 pm, the protesters were told by police that the Sidhu couple is out of station and they will arrange their meeting with them on Monday.
“If our demands are not met, we will sit on the same railway track on the day of Dussehra”, added Kumar.