AAP slams 'selective' aid to Sikh victims, calls it election gimmick

The Aam Aadmi Party on Friday threatened to launch an agitation in case the Centre fails to disburse compensation to families of all anti-Sikh riot victims within a “definite time period”. 

The party alleged that the decision to distribute compensation to the 17 families was no more than a poll gimmick. 

Earlier in the day, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh had distributed cheques of Rs 5 lakh to 17 kin of the riot victims at a function in Delhi. Delhi BJP chief Satish Upadhyay was also present at the function. 

“After a series of U-turns and lies on the issue, the manner in which the Home Minister selectively implemented the decision of providing enhanced compensation to merely 17 families at a political function is a matter of shame,” the AAP said.

The party said the government should have come out with a plan of disbursing compensation to the remaining victims. Upadhyay said the BJP, if elected to power in Delhi, will dispose of all “pending demands” of Sikhs within two years. 

But the AAP said the Delhi BJP chief had no business there. “If it was an official function, then how was the Delhi BJP president who has never been elected either an MLA or an MP was present on the stage?” the AAP said in a statement.

“Was it an official or a political function ? In what capacity did the Union Home Minister and Lieutenant Governor allow the Delhi BJP chief to attend the function?” the party said.

The AAP criticised the Centre for not appointing a Special Investigation Team to probe the matter. 

“The Home Ministry has already displayed its non-seriousness in ensuring justice for the riot victims by setting up a committee to decide whether an SIT is required to probe the riot cases,” the AAP said.