by Bhupen Goswami

Guwahati :High-level delegation in Meghalaya capital, to meet Chief Minister Sangma today.“We are on the poll rolls and have Aadhaar cards, ration cards and electricity connection in our names. We have the right to vote and elect a government in Meghalaya and yet are ‘illegal residents’ who have been told to leave,” a dejected Gurjit Singh, the president of Gurdwara Nanak Darbar, told a high-level delegation representing the Punjab Government late this evening. Nearly 350 Sikh families residing on both sides of Punjabi Lane — mostly in one-room tenements — were issued eviction orders last month. Ever since, the community has been living in fear. To find a way out, Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh sent a delegation to Shillong headed by minister Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, also comprising MP Jasbir Singh Dimpa, MLAs Kuldeep Singh Vaid and Kulbir Singh Zira and Secretary (Planning) DS Mangat as members. Shillong Sikhs came out in droves to receive the delegation that reached late in the evening after overcoming a ‘hiccup’. Citing Section 144, Meghalaya Police officials told the delegation it did not have the requisite permission to visit Punjabi Lane. Adamant, minister Randhawa announced they would make it on their own in private vehicles. Subsequently, the local administration agreed to provide police escort to the delegates. Punjabi Lane area has been sealed by paramilitary forces. This was necessitated after violent clashes between local Sikhs and members of the Khasi tribe. Meghalaya Home Minister James K Sangma on Thursday assured safety of all Sikhs living in the state while he spoke to Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh over the phone. Sangma told a high-level delegation from Punjab led by Minister Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa that security of the Punjabi Lane had been intensified and efforts were on for finding a lasting solution to the complicated problem of settlement of the Sikhs in the Punjabi Lane. The home minister further dismissed the threats to the Sikhs by local organizations as not serious. Nearly 350 Sikh families were issued eviction orders last month who are residing on both sides of Punjabi Lane mostly in one-room tenements and since then the community has been living in fear.