Scores of Sikh protesters led by Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) on Monday held a protest outside the residence of Congress Vice President, demanding revelation of names of Congressmen who were allegedly involved in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots.
“We want Rahul Gandhi to reveal the names of those involved in 1984 anti-Sikh riots. We have given him a 72-hour ultimatum after which we will protest outside the Prime Minister’s house,” DSGMC President Manjit Singh GK said while protesting with 200 people outside Gandhi’s residence at
12 Tughlaq lane.
In a recent interview to a news channel, Gandhi had said that “some Congressmen were probably involved in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots and they had been punished for it”.
The protesters raised anti-Congress slogans and held up black flags and placards. “I have seen my son being killed. Why these police personnel did not act when Sikhs were being massacred in 1984IJ” asked one of the riot victims.
The protesters also demanded ex-gratia relief, jobs and residential allowance for riot victims. “In 2005, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had apologised for the riots and promised an allowance of `715 crore. The ex-gratia in the case of
death, jobs and compensation for damaged property was also enhanced but we have received no relief so far,” said Kuldip Singh Bhogal, president, All India ’84
Riot Victims Relief Committee.
On Delhi Government’s decision to set up a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the riot cases, he said, “We have been demanding an SIT for the past 25 years. If Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal is really with us, we
welcome him.”