Arvind Kejriwal distributes Rs 5 lakh cheques to 1984 victims' families

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal along with his Deputy Manish Sisodia distributed the enhanced compensation cheques of Rs 5 lakh to the kin of each of the 1,300 people killed in the violence today on 1 November.

Kejriwal said that had the guilty been punished after the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, incidents like in Gujarat and Dadri would not have happened and "such intolerance" would not have spread.

"If those guilty in the 1984 riots were punished in the past 31 years, then incidents like those in Gujarat and Dadri would not have happened. No one would have dared to spread hatred among people on basis of religion and such intolerance would not have spread in the country," the Chief Minister said after distributing the cheques in West Delhi's Tilak Vihar here.

The Chief Minister also claimed that "intolerance and hatred is thriving because those perpetrating it know that those in power will protect them".

He claimed that the Centre ordered constitution of Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the riots because it was "afraid" that once his government takes charge the guilty will be brought to book. Kejriwal also said that he will get it legally examined if the Centre was within its rights to constitute the SIT in this matter.

"In these 31 years, almost every party formed government in Delhi as well as at the Centre. BJP and Congress formed governments in Delhi, NDA and Congress formed government in Centre and every party and government kept on saying that Sikhs should be given justice. But who else will ensure justice if the government doesn't?

In August this year, the Delhi Cabinet decided to distribute enhanced compensation cheques as announced by the central government to the kin of the 1984 anti-Sikh riot victims.

Delhi Government has estimated an expenditure of around Rs 130 crore on compensation for around 2,600 families of ant-Sikh riot victims. The Centre will later refund the compensation amount to the Delhi Government.

Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, who along with Kejriwal wore a black band on the sleeves as symbolic protest, hit out at the then Congress government.

"The riots were not a tragedy but a government supported murder. The government has not only kept the guilty shielded but also given them tickets for elections, made them ministers too," he said.

-PTI