M A I N   N E W S

’84 Riots
UP rejects 716 ‘weak’ claims
Aditi Tandon
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, April 14
The Uttar Pradesh government has rejected 716 claims of compensation made by families of Sikhs victimised during the 1984 riots. The applications were returned on grounds that they were “weak”. The sole observation accompanying the rejected claims, which form 18 per cent of the total cases filed in UP, was — they are “balheen” (weak).

Taking a serious view of these rejections, the National Commission for Minorities (NCM) has now asked the state government to reopen all the cases and give the victims a due hearing. The Commission has told the authorities concerned to list out exact reasons behind refusal of compensation to families affected by riots.

“You can’t wish away a compensation claim on grounds that the application is weak. You have to spell out on file, these so-called “weaknesses” so that people can “strengthen” their applications. I have gone through these rejected claims and made a note of them. All they lack is documents ranging from date of birth proof to FIRs. These formalities can be completed once you tell the people to do so. You can’t turn down pleas without any rhyme or reason. We will get the cases reopened,” H.S. Josh, member, NCM today told The Tribune.

The state government, said the commission, had assured them of justice in the matter. As for facts, they surfaced last week when the commission held a public hearing in Kanpur to find out the ground situation with respect to grant of compensation to families affected by 1984 riots. The nodal authority for resolution of pending claim cases in Uttar Pradesh is located at Kanpur.

But 28 months after Government of India gave Uttar Pradesh Rs 25 crore to provide relief and rehabilitation to the affected people (under the relief package announced by the PM), only about Rs 9 crore has been disbursed. Out of a total of 4,326 cases, 2,234 have so far been settled, according to union home ministry records.

The compensation amount given by Uttar Pradesh is also being seen as paltry, considering the state suffered maximum casualties in the riots, after Delhi. Close to 200 people lost their lives in Kanpur which also suffered heavy losses of property. In terms of casualties, Kanpur was followed by Bokaro where 140 people were reportedly killed and Indore where the toll was about 120.

“We have held meetings with the state government to see how the task at hand can be finished on priority,” said Josh, who was in Kanpur last week to hear out victims. He was accompanied by Navtej Singh, UP’s nodal authority for grant of compensation to families victimised during riots.

Panel to settle cases in 2 months

The Uttar Pradesh government has, meanwhile, set up a high-powered committee to settle the pending cases of riot-affected Sikh families. The committee, says minorities commission, has promised to clear the pending cases within two months. Headed by special home secretary D.K. Singh, it has on board OSD to the state government and the nodal authority for settlement of 1984 riots’ cases in UP. The members will reach out to victims instead of victims having to come all the way to Kanpur to get their cases settled.