Delhi Polls: Government to form SIT to probe 1984 sikh riots, Congress calls it a poll gimmick

NEW DELHI: The government is set to form a special investigation team (SIT) to probe afresh cases related to the 1984 anti-Sikh riots which were closed earlier by the Delhi Police and CBI, government officials confirmed on Sunday.

The Congress called it “a gimmick by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to woo voters” ahead of the Delhi assembly elections scheduled for next Saturday. Sikhs in Delhi constitute a significant vote bank. Some senior Congress leaders were among those accused in the 1984 riots, triggered by the assassination of then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. The official home ministry spokesperson didn’t confirm the news. Announcing such a decision now could violate the model code of conduct. The ministry had last year invited the wrath of the Election Commission for unofficially announcing an enhanced compensation package for the anti-Sikh riot victims in the midst of Delhi by-polls.

The move to set up a SIT follows the recommendations of a committee headed by former Supreme Court judge GP Mathur, which was set up on December 23. ET had reported that the govinvestigation team post the submission of the report as the principal terms of reference for the committee was to look closely into the demand for probes. The committee submitted its report within 45 days though it had three months to do so. Interestingly, Arvind Kejriwal, while he was Delhi chief minister for 49 days, had announced setting up of a SIT to reinvestigate the riots, but it didn’t materialise as he resigned.



Senior CBI officials and Delhi Police officials who have probed a few of the 1984 riot cases told ET that finding concrete evidence against perpetrators of the violence after 30 years may be an "uphill task". Also many key witnesses are not alive, which will make any fresh probe even more difficult.

The Congress, meanwhile, said if the Centre were serious about probing riot cases, it should also investigate those in Gujarat and Muzaffarnagar. “Why raise the issue (of ordering SIT) just fourfive days prior to elections? Is this an electoral ploy? Justice cannot be an electoral game," said spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala.

The Akali Dal, which is aBJP ally, has welcomed the move. "Akali Dal has been fighting for a long time for justice for the 1984 riots and now we are thankful to the Prime Minister who has created this committee,” Akali Dal leader and Delhi Sikh Gurudwara Committee chief Manjit Singh said. “I think, now the government should not waste any time and should constitute a SIT so that justice is delivered because it has been delayed for over 30 years."