1984-riot victims go on protest, want justice

Survivors of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots on Thursday reacted with outrage to the new Central announcements for their relief, saying they have fallen short of their expections for justice.

The riot victims blocked roads and held angry sit-ins at West Delhi's Tilak Vihar, a 1984-riot rehabilitation colony, after the Union Cabinet announced a Rs 715-crore pacakge for them. They also announced their plans to hold a march from Tilak Nagar to the Prime Minister's residence on Friday morning as they accused the United Progressive Alliance government of going back on its promise to provide jobs to at least one member of stricken families.

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Widows beat their chests and shouted anti-government slogans, demanding fast-track courts be set up to try politicians named in the Nanavati commission report. "This package is inadequate. There were recommendations for a Rs 1,200-crore package for the victims, but the government has announced Rs 715 crore in total for thousands of the affected people," protest leader Atma Singh Lubana said.

He also accused the government of trying to shield politicians blamed for the 1984 rioting. "There is no word from the government about justice for us. There is no word about immediate plans to bring big politicians to book," Lubana said. "Victims will march up to the Prime Minister's residence on Friday to demand justice."