'PM's package ignores Rajasthan, Uttaranchal '84 riots victims'

New Delhi, Sep 25 (UNI) Victims of 1984 anti-Sikh riots from Uttaranchal and Rajasthan have complained to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh that they have totally been overlooked in the rehabilitation package announced by him recently.

In a memorandum given to the Prime Minister through the National Commission for Minorities (NCM), they said the package gives relief only to those victims (about 20 per cent), who have already got some assistance.

The 80 per cent of them, who had got no relief earlier, have been left out this time too, the memo said.

Pointing out that para five and six of the order relating to the rehabilitation package only talks of increasing by ten times the aid given earlier, the victims demanded that the compensation be given not on the basis of the amount given earler, but on the basis of the damage (as per police records and report) suferred by them during the riots.

''It seems that the committee headed by KP Singh set up for the rehabilitation of 1984 riot victims visited only Punjab and Delhi and totally ignored Uttaranchal and Rajasthan,'' said the Uttaranchal '84 Riot Victims Committee in the memo.

It said the Government has given Rs 3.50 crore for dependents of those killed in the riots, and Rs 1.25 lakh for the injured and Rs 2 lakh each for those who migrated to Punjab after the riots. On the other hand, those Sikhs in Uttaranchal and Rajasthan who did not choose to migrate to Punjab and whose residential and commercial properties had sufferred massive damage have not been given a single penny as assistance.

The victims demanded that the Centre direct the Rajasthan Government to expedite distribution of relief under the rehabilitation package.

Besides, they said, all the states should be directed to pay the compensation before Diwali.

UNI NAZ LL DS1221