Jobs for 1984 riots victims: A ray of hope amid decades of struggle

Sitting in a small house at Shiv Colony, Kanwaljeet Singh (55), recalls the nightmare days of 1984 with a heavy heart. A daily wager battling poor health and poverty, Singh has spent nearly four decades waiting for justice, rehabilitation and dignity after losing his father to the anti-Sikh riots. The announcement by the Haryana Government to provide jobs to victims of the 1984 riots has come as a ray of hope for the family.

Kanwaljeet’s father, Dr Puran Singh Bhalla, was a RMP doctor at Shakurpur, Delhi, when the riots broke out. Armed mobs set their house and clinic ablaze, brutally attacking his father. Despite repeated complaints to the Shakurpur police, no FIR was ever registered. The family fled to Karnal in search of safety, but the trauma never left. Dr Bhalla succumbed to his injuries in December 1986, and Kanwaljeet’s mother passed away in 2006, leaving the family’s hopes shattered.

Since then, Kanwaljeet Singh has fought a lonely battle for justice and survival. A heart patient who has undergone two surgeries, he continues to work as a daily wager to support his wife, one daughter and two sons. “I approached the authorities several times, but nothing was ever done for me. Even after my verification by the Delhi administration, I never received any compensation,” he lamented.

His efforts to seek justice have been relentless. Over the years, Singh wrote several letters to the Prime Minister’s Office, narrating his plight. In January 2016, he received a letter from the PMO directing the Haryana Chief Secretary to take appropriate action on his case. Though the verification process was completed by the Delhi administration after the intervention of the then Deputy Commissioner in 2012, the long-promised rehabilitation package never reached him.

“I have struggled all my life to survive after losing everything in 1984. If the government provides us jobs today, it will be like a new beginning for families like mine. I thank CM Nayab Singh Saini for healing the wounds of the Sikhs. My salute to him. After around 40 years, such a decision has come. No other CM has ever thought this way,” Singh said, his voice heavy with emotion.

Kawaljit further shared that his family managed their livelihood through hard labour and small jobs. At present, he supports his family by issuing slips in a parking area near the court.

His wife, Satnam Kaur, also expressed her gratitude. “The government’s decision has brought a huge relief to the Sikh families after 40 long years. My husband worked very hard to keep the family afloat, our children could not study due to hardships. Now, at least there is some hope. When my mother-in-law was alive, she always wished that the government would take a decision in our favour. Today, her soul must be at peace with this announcement,” she said with tears in her eyes.

meanwhile, Haryana Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (HSGMC) president Jagdish Singh Jhinda welcomed the announcement of the state government for a job to 1984 victim families and said, “I have expressed gratitude to the CM for this announcement. It was long awaited and no other government had ever taken this step. It will help the families to come out from the trauma of the Sikh riots,” said Jhinda.