Demonstration by riot victims

[s s Jhamka]

vaheguru

Demonstration by riot victims

Tribune News Service

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2004/20041101/main2.htm

New Delhi, October 31

Two decades have passed, but justice seems to elude the victims of the 1984 anti-Sikh riot. They demonstrated in the Capital today, demanding punishment to those involved in the massacre and compensation to the children of those who lost their loved ones.

The president of All-India Sikh Conference Gurcharan Singh Babbar, in a memorandum to the Prime Minister, said, “No action has been taken against those involved in the sacrilege, burning of Sikh religious text books and looting the money from the coffers of gurdwaras in the Capital.”

Comparing the anti-Sikh riots with the Gujarat riots, he said the Supreme Court has been passing stringent strictures from time to time in the Gujarat riot case, but has not adopted a similar stand with respect to the 1984 anti-Sikh riots.

The protestors, demonstrating near Jantar Mantar in the Capital, raised anti-Congress slogans and sought justice.

They also sought action against the senior officials of Delhi Police who were alleged to be involved in the riots and felicitation for those who fearlessly tried to save the community and the gurdwaras from destruction.

They also demanded compensation for those killed in the riots and job opportunities to the children of those who lost their lives in November 1984. A mont

hly pension of Rs 5000 for the aged was also sought.

At the Tilak Vihar colony, where the widows of riots were rehabilitated, there was a stunning silence today with children and relatives of the victims remembering and narrating the horrific memories of the mayhem.

According to the government 2733 persons died in the wave of killings aimed at the Sikh community after the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi was gunned downed by her Sikh security guards seeking revenge for her decision to send the army to flush out Sikh separatists from the Golden Temple.

The Justice Nanavati Commission, which was asked to probe the riot cases afresh, has been given time till December 31 to complete its inquiry.

It has completed the hearing and sought two months extension to finalise its report