Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday marked the 31st anniversary of 1984 anti-Sikh riots. (PTI Photo) Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday marked the 31st anniversary of 1984 anti-Sikh riots. (PTI Photo)

Paying homage to Sikhs killed in the riots of 1984 in Tilak Vihar, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said Sunday, “Had the perpetrators of the 1984 riots been punished, Gujarat and Dadri would have never happened in this country. Nobody would have dared to spread hatred in the name of religion”. The CM’s statement came as he seconded senior advocate H S Phoolka’s statement to similar effect.

Enhanced compensation cheques for Rs 5 lakh each were handed out to 1,320 next of kin of Sikhs killed in the riots. Delhi Chief Secretary K K Sharma said the government will issue such cheques to 2,300 families. Kejriwal said his government will strive to bring the perpetrators of the riots to book.

He said a Special Investigation Team (SIT) appointed by the AAP government during its 49-day rule in 2014 was disbanded after the government resigned. He, however, said his government will examine if the Centre has the power to appoint an SIT in this case.

“Phoolkaji said something very interesting. He said the Centre has no power to form an SIT. He said the Delhi government alone has the power to appoint an SIT,” said Kejriwal.

Families of Sikhs killed in the riots were promised enhanced compensation in December 2014 when Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh handed over cheques for Rs 5 lakh to 17 women.

In May, the AAP government announced that it had earmarked Rs 10 crore from its budget to pay enhanced compensation to the kin of riot victims.

“A day before I formed government, on February 13, the BJP government at the Centre appointed an SIT to probe the 1984 riots. They were afraid that Kejriwal will come to power and appoint honest police officers in SIT and send the guilty behind bars. They formed an SIT a day before my government took charge so that I don’t set up one. But in the last eight months, the Centre’s SIT has not reopened a single case,” said Kejriwal.

Accusing the previous Congress and BJP governments in Delhi and at the Centre of defeating the purpose of justice, Kejriwal said, “Even a child will tell you who was responsible for the 1984 genocide. Then how come all evidence, proof fail before the court? Nobody is punished. This is the reason why there is politics of religion in this country. The society is being poisoned under the name of

religion.”

Kejriwal said leaders in the country were responsible for letting hatred thrive. “Only Aam Aadmi can save this country. They have created an atmosphere of hatred all over. For the first time our President is so sad. In the last month, the President has said three or four times that diversity is the strength of our nation and this diversity has kept the country together. Why is intolerance thriving all over? Why do these people stand against each other in hatred? Because they know that people in power will protect them. If people in power carry out strict probes against them, these cowards will be gone in two days,” he said.

Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said, “We don’t just want ‘Vikas’ of technology and infrastructure. We want ‘Vikas’ of minds or else people will laugh at us and say this is a country where people fight and kill over religion. In a government guest house if there is any information about beef, all the police force rushes to the spot, leaving terrorists and other accused aside. Jao jaake dekho kahin beef bik raha hai toh (Go and see if beef is being sold somewhere).”

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