New Delhi : Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) members on Saturday held a cycle rally to protest against delayed justice for victims of the 1984 Sikh riots. The rally was flagged off by Lok Sabha Member of Parliament Harinder Singh Khalsa, and led by senior Delhi High Court advocate H.S. Phoolka.
“The genocide that took place in 1984 has received very little justice. Thirty-one years have passed waiting for justice, which is why we have all gathered here today to protest and send a social message about this issue,” Phoolka told. “Thirty-one years we have waited and so we have planned to cycle 31 kilometres. Members of various human rights groups, political parties and religions have come together to open the eyes of the government. We want severe punishment for the culprits so that in the future no one would dare to commit such crimes,” he added.
Accusing the government of inaction, Khalsa further said, “It is shameful that thousands were killed in this country, but still governments that have come to power, haven’t been able to identify all the culprits. We don’t know when we will get justice.” About 3,000 people died in the riots which followed the assassination of then prime minister Indira Gandhi. She was assassinated by her two Sikh body guards on October 31, 1984.
