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Rajnath Singh: 1984 Anti-Sikh Riots Were Genocide

By STAFF
The Sikh Times would like to provide some additional context for its readers. If indeed Rajnath Singh has setup a committee to investigate the Sikh massacres that took place in the wake of Indira Gandhi's assassination on October 31, 1984, it would be yet another committee in a long line of committees created over the 30 years since the massacres, with little result. It should also be noted that Rajnath Singh's statement comes in the midst of a heated electioneering contest for the upcoming municipal elections in Delhi.

Press Trust of India, New Delhi, Dec. 26, 2014


Photo: Rajnath Singh's Twitter Message

Describing the anti-Sikh riots of 1984 as 'genocide', Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday said several persons who had a 'role' in the carnage are yet to be punished.

'In these incidents (anti-Sikh riots), there are several persons who are yet to be punished. I have faith in our judicial system and these persons will definitely get punishment,' Mr. Singh said after distributing cheques of enhanced compensation to the riot victims in Tilak Vihar area of west Delhi.

'I know that until these persons are punished, victims will not get relief. I want to assure that government is with you and will be with you in even bad days,' he said.

The Union Minister distributed cheques of Rs. 5 lakh each to 17 kin of the riot victims at a function in Tilak Vihar.

According to a senior government official, enhanced compensation to 2,459 people will soon be given after verification.

Mr. Singh also said that he has constituted a committee under a retired judge to look into the grievances of victims of 1984 riots.

'I want to assure that after getting complaints through this committee, government will solve them,' he said.

The Centre had recently announced to provide additional Rs. 5 lakh compensation to the kin of Sikhs killed in 1984 riots.

Mr. Singh said that he wanted to give its credit to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Calling the 1984 anti-Sikh riots 'genocide', Mr Singh said, 'It was not riot, it was genocide instead. Hundreds of innocent people were killed. The pain of the kin of riot victims cannot be compensated by even paying crores of rupees.'

Meanwhile, some kin of the riot victims said they want the culprits to be punished instead of the compensation.

'My pain cannot be reduced by money and I want to see culprits being punished. Even after 30 years, main culprits are roaming free,' 70-year-old Amarjeet, whose husband Satnam was killed in the riots, said after receiving the cheque from the Union Minister.

'We cannot expect anything from the government. These riots took place in 1984, but the justice is yet to prevail. I don't want money but justice,' said Bakshish Kaur, whose husband was also killed in the riots.