Mohammed Suaib Khan New Delhi : , Nov 21, 2014 – The 1984 antisikh riots were much politicised, but the 37 year anniversary of the event still leaves the victims awaiting justice.
Many victims believe that the promises of the Central government in 2021 will come true for them.
They will meet again with Chairman Iqbal Singh Lalpura, National Commission for Minorities (NCM), and present files from 150 of those affected still to receive a home.
The victims submitted an earlier memorandum seeking fulfillment of government promises to the Commission.
The Commission took note of the matter and sent notices to seven countries.
Sonu Singh is a resident of Delhi’s Tilak Vihar, and was also one of the victims of the riots.
She said to IANS that she used to live in Trilok Puri at the time, and her father and grandfather died from the rioters.When the riots occurred, I was just five years old.Two of my brothers are also living in the house and have been granted temporary ownership.”We do not yet have the owner’s rights.”
We stayed for one year in the camp after 1984.After that, we moved to Tilak Vihar.We were given the property by the government, who took Rs 1000 from us.”We have been asking the governments for owner’s rights,” said the 40-year old.
The Arvind Kejriwal government of Delhi also had promised employment, electricity, and ownership rights to the homes, but this was not fulfilled.
NCM Chairman Lalpura spoke out about the matter, telling IANS that his goal was to speedily provide justice for the victims.We’ve sent notices to seven countries and we will succeed in this endeavor.
The Commission also sought information about delays in awarding compensation to victims and on cases against the accused, as well as further proceedings.
Sonu stated that although the Central and State governments have announced several compensation packages, many victims still do not receive any.
Sonu asserted that he had been promised a variety of schemes including temporary freehold allotments.However, none were implemented.
He demanded also that the Rs.2,500 pension for the elderly be revised.
Sonu stated that the compensation announced in August by Mukhtar Naqvi, Minority Affairs Minister, should be made available.
Naqvi stated that the government had been blamed for victims while speaking with IANS.After the arrests, an SIT was established.The process of providing compensation was also initiated.”
When asked how many victims had received compensation, however, the Minister didn’t respond.
The Minister informed Lok Sabha in August that the Central government had announced a rehabilitation and relief package.Under it, families of deceased people will receive Rs 3.5 lakhs while those who are injured will receive Rs 1.25 lakhs.
A provision is made for Rs.2,500 per month to provide a monthly pension for the spouses and parents of the victims of riot.
Naqvi stated that the expenditures on pension amounts must be covered by the states.
The Central government also announced an increase in ex-gratia for riot victims to Rs 5 Lakhs in 2014.
According to the Union Ministry of Minority Affairs, increased assistance should be provided for victims.A provision of Rs.4.5 crore was included in the Budget 2021-22.
Some victims received temporary aid in the form of 944, but many others are still waiting.
According to victims, the Kejriwal government sent Rs 2.5 lakh electricity bills, while the former government did not demand the charge.
Balbir Singh, a victim of 50 years old, told IANS that he was just 12 when his family died.Due to this, I became unconscious.My head sustained a serious injury.I was also torn.To this date I can’t wear a tunic.
Many of those who were hurt received compensation.The Manmohan Singh government gave me Rs.2,000, and then Rs.1.25.
Her Sikh bodyguards assassinated Indira Gandhi, then the Prime Minister of India, on October 31, 1984.Approximately 3,000 Sikhs died in Delhi.Anti-Sikh riots broke out in different parts of India during this period.
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