1984 anti-Sikh riots victims demand funds, jobs, justice

NEW DELHI: The victims of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots today submitted a memorandum to Lok Sabha Speaker's Office, demanding release of remaining funds of the relief package and lodging of FIR against the culprits who they claimed had gone scot free.

A six-member delegation led by Anti-Sikh Riots Society President Atma Singh Lubana submitted the memorandum after holding a demonstration at Janta Mantar.

"Out of the Rs 715 crore relief package, Rs 350 crore is yet to be released. The fund is held back since the authorities have misplaced some documents," Lubana said.

"The government in January 2006 had promised to give jobs to at least one member of the families of victims. But no one has been given any job as yet. We have included that in our demand," he added.

Lubana also claimed that the victims have struggled all through to have FIRs lodged against the rioters but the police did not cooperate.

"FIRs have not been lodged although they put stamps on our complaints that we have been looted and our people have been killed in the riots. We have demanded in the memorandum that FIR be lodged and policemen who did not do their duty properly be punished," Lubana said.

The delegation also demanded that the Members of Parliament pay tribute to the those killed during the riots in the ongoing winter session of the Parliament.