Attempt to woo voters? Modi Govt hands over compensation cheques to 1984 anti-Sikh riots survivors

New Delhi, Dec 26: The Centre on Friday handed over cheques of rupees 5 lakh each to many of the families who lost their loved ones in 1984 anti-Sikh riots. According to reports, Home Minister Rajnath Singh gave the cheques to 17 such families in the national capital.

The move is being seen as an attempt to woo Sikh voters in the capital where Assembly election is around the corner.

Speaking on the occasion, Union Minister Singh said,"The moment I was distributing the cheques it was very sentimental, I saw many mothers and sisters with tears on their eyes."

He further added, "The incident took place thirty years back...... I saw that the pain is still very much intact. Lakhs or crores cannot compensate their pain and I understand that".

Showing solidarity with the victim families, the Union Home Minister also said that a Grievance Redressal Committee has been formed to address the complaints of the relatives of riot victim.

In October, the Modi Government had announced that Rs 5 lakh each will be given to the kin of 3325 people killed in 1984 anti-Sikh riots.

Both Congress and Aam Aadmi party had criticized the move. Even Sikh rights group had criticised the decision, saying compensation cannot be a substitute to the prosecution of the perpetrators.

The Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) group said the grant of the compensation cannot be a substitute to the "prosecution of 1984 genocide perpetrators".