HINDIPAGE ONLINE

Amritsar; Dec 11

The Union Cabinet may have given a green signal to a compensation of Rs 5 lakh each to the kin of those killed in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, the affected families living here lament that the successive governments neither delivered justice nor rehabilitated them.

 .Bibi Jagdish Kaur, who lost her husband, son and three brothers in the riots, rued that most of the accused were still not brought to 

Mohan Singh, who had lost his brother Gurinder Singh in the riots, said the government had failed to initiate efforts for their rehabilitation while adding that most of the riot-affected families were coping with poverty and unemployment. Surinder Kaur, another riot victim, said the government turned a blind eye towards those who suffered loss of property in the riots. “Isn’t it the government’s job to rehabilitate us? We lost our property at Sultanpuri and had to migrate overnight to save our lives,” she said, adding that her three sons were forced to do small-time jobs. Kashmir Singh, who has formed a body to fight for the rights of the affected families, said the government should have announced a compensation of Rs 10 lakh each for the loss of life and Rs 5 lakh each for those who suffered loss of property.

Ranjeet Kaur, a widow, said, “The compensation has been delayed for too long. In the last 30 years, we have suffered a lot. We could not educate our children properly and they don’t have good jobs. What are we supposed to do with this Rs 5 lakh now. It is not enough.”

A dejected Balbir Kaur said, “Most of us haven’t even got Rs 2 lakh relief that was awarded earlier.