New Delhi: The Narendra Modi government has decided to give Rs 5 lakh as compensation to the next of kin of each victim of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots. The move comes at a time the national capital is headed for Assembly polls in the next few months.
Nearly 4,000 families are likely to benefit from the move which will cost the exchequer '166 crore.
The capital is at present under President’s Rule and Lt. Gov. Najeeb Jung is exploring the possibility of government formation by inviting the BJP, which finished as the single largest party in the last state Assembly polls.
Official sources said the decision to give '5 lakh compensation to the next of kin of victims of the anti-Sikh riots was taken five days ago. The riots were triggered following the assassination of the then Prime Minister, Indira Gandhi, by her Sikh bodyguards on October 31, 1984.
Friday is the 30th death anniversary of Indira Gandhi.
“The compensation will be disbursed as early as possible, hopefully in the next few weeks,” an official said.
Sources said that out of the 3,325 victims, 2,733 were killed in Delhi alone while the rest of the victims were slain in Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and other states.
