Scars still fresh, justice awaited, say 1984 riot victims 41 years later

For many, the pain and trauma of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots refuses to fade even 41 years later. Thousands of Sikh families that had fled from Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar to Punjab, in search of safety, still await justice, which remains a distant dream.

Members of the Danga Peerat Welfare Association—an organisation representing the riot-affected families—say that neither have the culprits been punished nor have the victims been properly rehabilitated. The emotional and financial scars, they say, continue to haunt them even after four decades.

“More than 25,000 Sikh families are still awaiting justice,” says Surjit Singh, president of the association. “The Congress may have been our enemy in the past, but the AAP government has added salt to our wounds. For the past six months, we have been knocking on every door, yet no one is willing to listen.”

According to Surjit, a delegation of the association met Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema about a month ago to raise issues related to rehabilitation. “Flats, booths and jobs were promised, but nothing has moved forward. Many victims still struggle to earn a living—driving auto-rickshaws, selling vegetables on rehris, or doing part-time work. Is this the justice we deserve?” he asked.

Adding to the voices of despair, Bibi Gurdeep Kaur, another member of the association, said they plan to stage protests before the upcoming elections. “We will go to Tarn Taran to expose the hollow promises of the AAP government. People must know which party truly stands for justice. We will appeal to voters not to fall for empty assurances again,” she said.