Forty Years After the 1984 Anti-Sikh Riots: Has Justice Been Served?

1984 anti-Sikh riots

Those 5 days from November 1 to November 5, 1984, remain etched in my memory as a time of unimaginable tragedy, said Darshan Kaur, a survivor of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, in an exclusive interview with ITV Network.

Kaur recounted the harrowing events that unfolded in her life during the first week of November 1984.

Kaur questioned the lack of accountability for those responsible for the deaths of over 5,000 Sikhs, contrasting it with the execution of Satwant Singh and Beant Singh, the assassins of then-Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.

She said: ‘The then Prime Minster was killed by Satwant Singh and Beant Singh, they got executed, then why not those who killed 5000 Sikhs?’

Kaur recalled horrific memories while living in Block 32 of the Trilokpuri area in Delhi.

She said in a trembling voice: “They came to my house in the evening carrying swords. They killed my brother-in-law and began searching for my husband. I hid him behind a drum, but they found him and killed him mercilessly along with 12 men from my family.’

She shared the anguish of losing her 15-day-old son during the riots.

She recalled: ‘They took him away, and I found him three days later in a market.’

Kaur revealed that she was offered 25 lakh rupees to remain silent and not testify.

She said: ‘I rejected that offer. We want justice.’

She insisted, questioning who could be elected to power to ensure that justice is served for the victims of the riots.

Darshan Kaur’s granddaughter, Gurpreet Kaur welcomed Lieutenant Governor V.K. Saxena’s approval of the relaxation of educational qualifications for the recruitment of victims of the 1984 Sikh riots.

She said this will allow more candidates to get employment. We really need initiatives like this; they will empower us, she added.

Advocate H.S. Phoolka has represented the victims of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots in numerous cases over the years.

He said that victims haven’t received justice yet and also explained the reasons for the prolonged process.

He emphasized, ‘Around 5,000 Sikhs were mercilessly killed; it was not a riot but a genocide. This is a failure of not only the executive and legislature but also the judiciary.’

https://youtu.be/u7JM-CY220U?si=zdQqEo867GvywudC