New package to 1984 riot victims
by Chandrika Jain

     New Delhi: The Government today announced a package comprising enhanced ex gratia and relief and rehabilitation assistance to the victims of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, amounting to about Rs 715 crore. A meeting of the Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh approved the grant of enhanced ex gratia, which includes payment in case of death at Rs 3.5 lakh in each case in addition to what has been already paid by the State governments, Finance Minister P Chidambaram said. Ex gratia payments in case of injuries will be given at the rate of Rs 1.25 lakh minus the amount already paid as per the relevant court judgments. Compensation for damaged residential properties would be paid at ten times the amount of compensation paid minus the amount already paid. Similarly, the compensation for damaged uninsured commercial or industrial properties would be paid at ten times the amount of compensation paid minus the amount already paid. "The total financial implication on payment of ex gratia amount or compensation to the riot victims will come to Rs 714.76 crore, which will be borne by the Centre," Chidambaram said.

     But Sikhs who reside in Tilak Vihar here are not satisfied with the package that the Government has granted. They want justice and are demanding punishment of the guilty. "We do not want money, we want justice. Those who were involved in the anti-Sikh riots including HKL Bhagat, Sajjan Kumar, Dharamdas Shastri and Jagdish Tytler should be punished. But still they are sitting inside their homes. Tytler was expelled from the post but still he has not been expelled. The Government promised to give compensation of Rs 1100 crore and now providing us only Rs 700 crore. Where has Rs 400 crore?," asks Mancha Singh, Mukhiya. After the lapse of many years the victims' family members do not even have a job to earn 'bread and butter' or safe place to reside. Due to miserable conditions, children have taken to petty crimes like theft. "If the Government does not listen to our request, we will continue our protests outside the Parliament. We do not want money. We want that those who were involved in the riots should be punished. We want that one or two members in a family should be provided with jobs. We should also be given pension," said Mancha Singh, Mukhiya.