Ludhiana Sikh Migrants Welfare Board chairman Kartar Singh Patna has welcomed the announcement made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi of giving Rs 5-lakh compensation to the families of the victims of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots.
At the same time, he termed the move as “rubbing salt on the wounds” of the families which were missing from the list of riot victims.
He said giving compensation to just 3,325 of the 10,000 victims who lost their lives was unfair. Pointing out to the compensation of Rs 440 crore given by the UPA government to the families of victims in Punjab, Patna said, “The SAD-BJP government in Punjab distributed only Rs 223 crore while the remaining Rs 217 crore is still pending. Also, the distributed money did not go into the right hands as most of it was distributed to the individuals carrying fake identity cards.”
Patna demanded a CBI inquiry into the misuse of the monetary help extended by the UPA government, alleging that a large number of genuine victims were still fighting for their rights in various courts.
Patna also criticised the bandh call given by All India Sikh Student Federation president Karnail Singh Peer Mohammad, accusing him of trying to gain attention by siding with the individuals who got the benefits given to riot victims through fake identities. If such leaders were actually bothered, they should stage a protest in Delhi and not in Punjab, he said, calling upon the families of the riot victims and the general public to boycott the bandh call.
