Punjab CM urges Centre to set up probe panel for 1984 riots

It is necessary to find out what conspiracy was hatched to carry out the worst riots in the country, says Badal

Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today urged the Centre to set up an inquiry committee to find out the "real reasons" of 1984 anti-Sikh riots and role of politicians and officials.

This was conveyed by Badal to Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, whom he met at the North Block.

"We have asked for setting up a committee to find out the real reason for the riots. The committee will find out the roles of political and officials in the killings," he told reporters after his 20-minute meeting with Singh.

Badal said it was necessary to find out what "conspiracy was hatched to carry out the worst riots in the country".

Sources said the Punjab Chief Minister is believed to have discussed with the Home Minister various issues concerning the 1984 anti-Sikh riots and how to to put the main perpetrators behind bars.

Last fortnight, Shiromani Akali Dal president and Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal had said the time has come to punish the architects of "Sikh genocide".

Accusing the previous UPA government of shielding "culprits" of anti-Sikh riots, Sukhbir had said that the new NDA government has built up the trust of Sikhs who have been fighting for the last 30 years to get justice and hoped Prime Minister Narendra Modi would deliver justice as early as possible.