1984 riots: Parkash Singh Badal seeks setting up of special commission

CHANDIGARH: Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today demanded setting up of a Special Commission under the chairmanship of a sitting Supreme Court judge to go into the "entire conspiracy" behind the 1984 anti-Sikh riots and delay in justice.

Winding up the debate on the Motion of Thanks to the Governor's Address in the state Assembly, he categorically said his party was not averse to setting up of SIT to probe into the riots but at the same time maintained that it should not be constituted by Congress.

He demanded that in case SIT was required then it must be formed only under the judicial direction and supervision to expedite investigation and prosecution in all other cases related to the massacre.

He pleaded that all the closed cases be reopened and FIRs be filed on the basis of complaints and records already available. Besides, fast track courts be set up to ensure speedy trial of all the guilty involved in various cases related to 1984 riots.

The Chief Minister also demanded that adequate compensation to all the victims.

Without mincing words, he said, "The guilty are well known...they belong to Congress only."

As Badal was about to speak, opposition Congress walked out of the House protesting the plight of employees in the state.

Leader of the Opposition Sunil Jakhar demanded that a case of abetement to suicide must be registered against the government for an incident that took place at Kapurthala today in which some employees tried to immolate themselves.

Underscoring the need for setting up of a "genuinely federal structure" in the country, Badal demanded that the Constitution should be recast on federal lines with powers for states and complete financial autonomy to them for their development works.

In the light of this guiding principle to grant fiscal autonomy to the states, he demanded that the key word 'Federal' should be added to the Preamble.