Arvind Kejriwal, Manish Sisodia, Kumar Vishwas, Gopal Rai, Sanjay Singh and many AAP volunteers observe a day’s fast in solidarity with the victims
Demands:
· The chargesheet related to FIR 67/87 should be filed in court
· Criminal case should be filed against Rajiv Ranjan, the police officer responsible for suppressing the charegsheet
· SIT should be formed to investigate into 1984 riots
· An appeal in the present case in which Sajjan Kumar was acquitted should be filed in the High Court immediately and a verdict be passed within 3 months
Nirpreet Kaur who lost her father during 1984 riots sat on an indefinite fast from today at Jantar Mantar to demand speedy justice for the victims of 1984 riots. The fast follows the acquittal of Sajjan Kumar, ex Congress MP, by trial court on the grounds that there is no evidence against him. Ironically, based on the same eyewitness reports, 5 people were convicted but Sajjan Kumar was acquitted in the case. Arvind Kejriwal, Manish Sisodia, Kumar Vishwas, Sanjay Singh, Gopal Rai along with many Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) volunteers observed a day’s fast in solidarity of her fast and victims of the 1984 riots. Manish Sisodia said, Aam Aadmi Party would continue to support the fast till the time 1984 riot victims get justice. He said, “We will extend all possible support to Nirpreet Kaur. We have appealed all our volunteers to join the fast everyday in large numbers.” All leaders of AAP would be present at Jantar Mantar till the time the fast ends.
Even though 29 years have passed, justice has evaded the victims of sikh riots that resulted in the death of more than 10000 sikhs. Despite several eyewitness accounts Sajjan Kumar was acquitted because some chargesheets like the one related to FIR 67/87 was not presented in the court. This case pertains to the murder of 4 sikhs during the riots, in which the accused is Sajjan Kumar.
Flashing the chargesheet, Arvind Kejriwal read out the last lines of the chargesheet which clearly mentions, “It is stated that on the basis of investigation and evidence, a challan is fit to be presented against Sajjan Kumar. But due to law and order problem he has not been arrested.” The victim and eyewitness in the case Gurbachan Singh has already undergone two heart surgeries and is very frail. Arvind Kejriwal asked, “Why has this chargesheet not been presented in the court? Is it waiting for the main witness Gurbachan Singh to die so that the case can be brushed under the carpet? What is the use of such a police that cannot arrest an accused citing law and order problem?”
Rajiv Ranjan the police officer who suppressed the above mentioned chargesheet has now been promoted. Arvind Kejriwal demanded that a criminal case should be filed against him immediately. He also demanded that an SIT should be constituted to independently investigate into the case. He also demanded that an appeal should be filed in the present case where Sajjan Kumar has been acquitted in the high court and a verdict should be given within next 3 months.
Addressing the people gathered Arvind Kejriwal said, "It was not only Sikhs who has bore the brunt of riots in Delhi, Muslims were massacred in Gujarat, Hindus were killed in Kashmir. The British divided us for their benefit, now the politicians have divided us for their votebank. Hindus, Muslims and Sikhs who have been affected are fighting for justice in their own ways. Now it is time for all of us unite and fight together for justice.” He said, “today we have gathered here not just to demand justice for sikhs, but for ourselves. Such an incident can happen with any of us. We will stand with our sikh brothers shoulder to shoulder till the time they get justice.” He appealed to the people of Delhi to join the protest in large numbers.
Commenting on the verdict, a prominent voice in the struggle for justice, Jagdish Kaur, said "I was horrified to hear the verdict. I felt that this day was a repeat of November 1, 1984 when I lost 3 family members including my husband and son." Narrating her story she said, "My family had contributed to the freedom struggle. But for three days, I ran from pillar to post so that the bodies could be cremated. No one helped, finally I had to cremate them in my home." With whatever strength was left she went to the Police Station to get her FIR filed. The first time she went she was told that a lot of sikhs had died and a lot more would die, all the cases would be filed together. The second time when she went she made sure that the name of Sajjan Kumar was included, the police officer asked her if she was in her senses to name people like Kumar. She said, "We were treated worse than animals."
Many sikh families who were affected in the riots joined the fight for justice in large numbers and observed one day fast. Many people came forward to share their experiences.
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