Special aid sought for riot victims

MUMBAI: These Congressmen can take cheer from the fact that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, despite his hectic schedule, took time off to give them an audience during his day-long Mumbai visit.

A delegation led by Congress MLA Naseem Khan on Friday called on Mr Singh to demand a special package for the 1992-93 riot victims in Mumbai.

Though there was no formal communication from either Mr Singh or the PMO, the legislator claimed that Mr Singh had promised to consider their case for a compensation package for the victims of the worst communal riots in the city on the lines of the relief provided to those affected by the 1984 anti-Sikh riots.

“The prime minister has assured us that he will look into the issue,” Mr Khan told reporters on Friday. More than 900 people were killed in the post-Babri Masjid demolition riots in Mumbai during December 1992 and January 1993.