Full NCM team to UP to question govt over 1984 riot victims

New Delhi, Apr 4 (UNI) The Mayawati Government's performance on compensation to 1984 riots victims and other cases relating to harassment of minorities will be under deep questioning by the National Commission for Minorities which will be on a two-day visit the state in full strength for the first time from April 9.

Uttar Pradesh tops the list of those states which have defaulted in giving compensation to the Sikh victim of the riots that broke out in Delhi and other parts of the country following the assassination of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in 1984.

The Rs 714.76 Crore compensation package was announced by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in January 2006.

''Two years have passed, but compensation has been paid in only 1400 cases out of the total 4500 in the state, which has been taken serious note of by the Commission,'' NCM Member Harcharan Josh told UNI.

He said the Commission would during its two-day stay in the state would be meeting the Governor, the Chief Secretray and other senior officials and try to know why the money had not been distributed to the victims despite being released by the Centre.'' In fact, he said, only Rs 419.67 crore of the sanctioned and released amount had been utilised by states in general for paying compensation to Sikh victims.

''We wrote to the Prime Minister to extend the utilisation period by a year, otherwise this money would have lapsed for lack of utilisation certificate by states,'' said Mr Josh.

Besides, the Sikh victims cases, there were other 70 cases of harassment and injustice to minorities which would be taken up with the Uttar Pradesh government.

Mr Josh will be leaving for Kanpur two days in advance of the NCM team's visit to hold meeting with the victims.

During its stay in the capital, the NCM would also hold public hearing.

The Commission may also meet Chief Minister Mayawati, but no programme has been fixed as during the visit period she has some other engagements, said the NCM member.

Replying to a question, Mr Josh said Jammu and Kashmir was the only state which has paid compensation in all the 62 cases of 1984 riots distributing a total amount of Rs 1. 54 Cr.

He said the record of Delhi was not too bad as it had settled 8323 out of 11164 cases.

Other states where Sikh victims are to be paid compensation are Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgrah, Haryana, Jharkhand, Himachal Pradesh, Orissa, Bihar, Uttarakhand and Punjab.

UNI NAZ KD SSC1251