Protesters upset as Tytler verdict is deferred

New Delhi, April 9 (IANS) Many Sikhs holding protests outside a court here were left fuming when the verdict on Congress leader Jagdish Tytler in a case of anti-Sikh riots was postponed Thursday.

They, however, said they will continue their protests and not sit in peace until Tytler was punished.

'No one can demotivate us. So what if the date of court hearing is changed? We will come again that day and will continue our protests until Jagdish Tytler is given his due punishment,' Harvinder Singh Khurana of the Shiromani Akali Dal told IANS outside the Karkardooma court complex in east Delhi.

The court postponed till April 28 its hearing in the case in which Tytler is accused of inciting a mob to kill Sikhs. Tytler, a former central minister, is a Congress nominee for the Lok Sabha election from Northeast Delhi.

'I am a victim of those riots. But this is not about the woes of one family. It's about the pain of the entire Sikh community which has been left unattended for the last 25 years,' Khurana said.

Ajai Kaur, another victim protesting outside the court, said she had waited for so long for justice that a few more days meant nothing for her.

'Seven members of my family - including a four-year-old - were killed during the riots just because we belong to a particular community. All these years I have waited for justice. Another few days' wait is nothing - I will protest until I die,' 75-year-old Ajai Kaur said.

Agitated protesters burned Tytler's effigies, some shouted dark threats if they did not get justice.

'We were not expecting this delay in the hearing of the case. Whatever it maybe, we will continue our protests. And if the court sets Tytler free, we will make sure that it doesn't happen,' said Omkar Singh Thapar, a protestor.