Delhi offers free legal aid to ’84 riot victims

NEW DELHI: Accusing the Centre of doing nothing to ensure justice to the victims of 1984 anti-Sikh riots, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal today said his government would extend free legal assistance to help them fight court cases besides rehabilitating them.

Tribune News Service & PTI

New Delhi, June 30

Accusing the Centre of doing nothing to ensure justice to the victims of 1984 anti-Sikh riots, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal today said his government would extend free legal assistance to help them fight court cases besides rehabilitating them.

During a discussion on a resolution on the issue in the Assembly, Kejriwal asked what had happened to the investigation into the riots by a Special Investigation Team (SIT) as announced by the Union Home Ministry in February.

Motion against Tytler

Delhi Legislative Assembly Speaker Ramniwas Goel accepted the Motion moved by AAP legislator Jarnail Singh appealing to take immediate action against 1984 anti-Sikh riot accused Jagdish Tytler.

On another AAP MLA Alka Lamba's request for seeking appointment with President Pranab Mukherjee on the matter, the Speaker said he would seek time from the President.

Leader of Opposition Vijender Gupta said this was a sensitive issue and should not be politicised. "The BJP supports the Motion and will help where its need is required for getting justice for the riot victims," he said.

Several legislators become emotional when Jarnail Singh with tears rolling down his cheeks narrated the plight of four sisters whose parents were killed in the riots.

Jarnail Singh claimed more than 3,000 Sikhs were killed during the riots in Delhi. "At that time, I was 11 years old and was studying in Class VI. I am also a victim as my brother and maternal uncle were killed. Only in one block - 32, Trilokpuri in East Delhi -- 500 Sikhs were killed," he said.

Accusing Congress leaders Tytler, Sajjan Kumar, HK Bhagat and others, he said money was distributed for killing Sikhs. The officers who followed ordered of the then government were promoted.

"We are hopeful of justice with the BJP government at the Centre as the party had promised in its election manifesto that it would help provide justice to Sikhs if it was voted to power. It came to power and had just announced a SIT. Months have passed, but the SIT did nothing. Those who are given charge of SIT are sitting in their houses," he alleged.