Sikh Genocide 1984 – Action is required, not lip service: Dal Khasla tells Indian Home Minister

Amritsar, Punjab: As the Home Minister (HM) of India has admitted that Nov 1984 killings were Genocide and not riots, the Dal Khalsa has urged Shri Rajnath Singh to translate his words into action and direct all print and electronic media (where ever govt’s writ works) to stop writing or calling the carnage as “riots” in future.

Dal Khalsa leader Kanwar Pal Singh [File Photo]

Party spokesperson Kanwar Pal Singh said Rajnath Singh would have to ensure that his words were implemented down the line. He said there must be policy statement by the GOI declaring 1984 killings as genocide. “Mere sugar-coated statement means nothing”, he said and added that Sikhs were sick of lip service and they don’t need compensation or sympathy but action against perpetrators.

He said it’s ironic that it took Indian leadership 30 years to acknowledge that killings of 2733 Sikhs (official figure and unofficial is close to 8000) was a carnage or attempted genocidal pogrom. He said despite Sikhs strong objections, the state machinery and its media reduced it in writing and oral parlance as a ‘riot’ between the Sikhs and non-Sikhs.

Reasserting that various organs of the Indian state conspired and carried out well-planned, well-orchestrated and well-executed killings of the Sikhs, he said Indian leadership has so far refused to listen, feel the pain and simmering anguish of aggrieved community.

Echoing the words of Rajnath Singh that until guilty persons are punished, victims will not get relief, he said 30 years have passed and hopes for justice were dying with each passing day.