Punjab seeks punishment for Sikh riots perpetrators

Chandigarh, Oct 31: The Punjab government Friday said it would mount pressure on the central government to seek punishment for those who were involved in the killing of hundreds of Sikhs in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots.

Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal told the media in Bathinda, 250 km from here, that the enhanced compensation awarded to the victims of 1984 riots by the Narendra Modi government Thursday was just a beginning of the procedure to heal their wounds.

"The Punjab government will build up pressure on the central government to punish those involved in heinous killings of innocent Sikhs in 1984 so that the wounds of victims are healed.

"Along with compensation, the accused should be awarded strict punishment for which the Akali Dal will leave no stone unturned to pressurise the central government," said Badal, who is also the president of the Shiromani Akali Dal.

The Akali Dal and the BJP have an alliance government in Punjab since 2007.

The central government Thursday announced that 3,325 victims of the 1984 riots will be given enhanced compensation amount of Rs.5 lakh each.

Sikhs were targeted by mobs in Delhi and other places after two Sikh bodyguards of then prime minister Indira Gandhi had assassinated her in New Delhi.