General News

After initial denial, Center now approves compensation of 1984 Sikh massacres victims

December 11, 2014 | By Sikh Siyasat Bureau

New Delhi, India: A month after it denied taking a decision on enhancing the compensation for the next of kin of victims of the 1984 anti-Sikh massacres, India’s Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on Tuesday wrote to the Finance Ministry seeking release of funds for disbursement during the current fiscal.

The move comes less than a month before assembly polls are expected to be announced in Delhi, home to a majority of Sikhs killed in the violence that followed the assassination of then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi on October 31, 1984.

“The proposal for a fresh Rs 5-lakh compensation to around 3,325 (Indian government’s figures) affected Sikh families was a tabled item at the Cabinet meeting. It has been approved,” a senior government functionary said soon after the Cabinet meeting on Wednesday (Dec. 10).

According to Indian government data there were only 3,325 victims who were killed during November 1984 Sikh massacres out of which 2,733 were killed in Delhi alone, while the rest belonged to states like Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra. Indian government’s data is not reliable as the government has reduced the figures to hide the truth of 1984 Sikh genocide.

Related News: Sikhs want Justice, not compensation: End impunity, punish culprits of 1984 Sikh genocide

Though the home ministry had given its in-principle approval to the additional relief for 1984 violence victims in November itself, it realised later that a Cabinet approval was needed for the same. The home ministry’s decision then was never announced as the bypolls to three Delhi assembly seats had been called by then. However, after media reports, the EC issued a notice to home ministry citing a “prima facie” model code violation.

Though the home ministry had denied any “decision” on the compensation, EC insisted that its lack of denial of media reports regarding the additional compensation led to “an unmistakable impression that the decision had been taken” . It said the announcement had the effect of disturbing the level when the poll code was in force and should have been avoided.

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Related Topics: 1984 Sikh Genocide, India, Indian Politics, Indian State, November 1984, Sikhs in India

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