Sikhs seek Obama's help to get justice for 1984 riots

Sikh-Americans have sought US President Barack Obama's help in getting justice for the victims of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots that occurred after the assassination of the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.
"Only 30 people have been convicted for these crimes, with police and prosecutorial authorities failing to bring government and party officials allegedly involved to justice," a number of Sikh American organisations said in a letter to the US President yesterday.
"Given the important role that India is poised to play, and is increasingly seeking, in setting international policy -- potentially as a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council -- we urge you to address impunity for the 1984 premeditated violence in your engagement with India," the letter said.

Written jointly by Ensaaf, Human Rights Watch and the Sikh Coalition, the letter urges the Obama administration to strengthen its engagement with India on the need to provide justice to the victims and survivors.
The letter further says that "organised massacres" followed the assassination of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi by two of her Sikh bodyguards on October 31, 1984.
"However, the entire Sikh community was targeted in retribution, while the Delhi police largely did nothing to protect them," the letter said.
"Although the government promptly convicted and executed those responsible for conspiring Gandhi's assassination, it has allowed most of those responsible for the anti-Sikh violence to elude prosecution, owing to flawed investigations, intimidation of witnesses and the destruction and suppression of evidence by police officials," it said.