‘What has been done for ’84 riot survivors’

New Delhi, May 15

Former Delhi Court Judge Justice RS Sodhi has questioned the political parties saying what about survivors of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots. Nobody has done anything for those who survived the riots.

They need to be properly rehabilitated, they need assistance. A lot of schemes have been announced by the states, including Punjab, but the implementation was faulty.

During every election, the talk revolves around those who died and ongoing court cases, whereas the need is to help those who survived riots and continue to struggle having lost their wealth and homes. Riots against Sikhs occurred in the aftermath of assassination of PM Indira Gandhi on October 31, 1984.

Justice Sodhi said the Congress and the Akali Dal have not done enough for the survivors. He estimated that around 30,000 families were affected, while various commissions focussed only on around 3,300 Sikhs who lost their lives in various parts of the country. He questioned the BJP saying what were its cadres doing in Delhi when Sikhs were being killed. Were they just bystanders? he said.