Injustice for 1984 victims led to hate crimes: Arvind Kejriwal

‘If guilty were punished, Dadri would not have happened’

Making a politically-charged statement, Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday said that had the perpetrators of 1984 anti-Sikh riots been punished, incidents like Gujarat and Dadri would not have happened and “such intolerance” would not have spread. On the 31st anniversary of the anti-Sikh riots, Mr Kejriwal along with his deputy Manish Sisodia distributed enhanced compensation cheques of Rs 5 lakh each to over 1,300 families who lost their loved ones in the violence that erupted in the aftermath of the assassination of the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and paid homage to the victims.

“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,” the Delhi chief minister said.

Mr Kejriwal said that “intolerance and hatred is thriving because those perpetrating it know that those in power will protect them.” Quoting his party colleague and lawyer H.S. Phoolka, Mr Kejriwal said the Central government does not have the power to form an SIT. “I will get it examined whether the Delhi government can form an SIT and if the SIT formed by the Central government is illegal,” he said.

The chief minister claimed that the Centre ordered constitution of a 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. Mr 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. The BJP and the Congress formed governments in Delhi, the NDA and the Congress formed governments 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 During our 49-day regime we had ordered the constitution of a SIT which wasn’t formed in 30 years. But when we had resigned from the government, it was cancelled,” he said. “However, when we formed government again on February 14, just a day before that the Central government constituted SIT because they were scared that when Arvind will come to power, all those who are guilty will be booked,” he added.

The chief minister said “the intolerance in the country has reached so high that even the President has raised concern on the same four times during this month.”