Speaker backs govt's call for SIT probe into anti-Sikh riots

Endorsing Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's call for an SIT probe into the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, Delhi Assembly Speaker MS Dhir today said he was hopeful that such a move would lead to justice for the victims who have been "denied" redress for the last 30 years.
"I hope (a new) probe will bring justice to people who have been denied the same for the last 30 years. And, I don't mean just for the Sikhs, because there were many people who suffered during the riots," Dhir told reporters here.
During a meeting today, Kejriwal is learnt to have requested Lt Governor Najeeb Jung to order a probe by a Special Investigation Team (SIT) into the 1984 anti-Sikh riots.

Dhir seconded Kejriwal's request seeking an SIT inquiry and said he hoped that "many things would be unravelled through the probe".
On Rahul Gandhi's admission in a recent interview to a TV channel that "some Congress workers were involved in it (the 1984 riots)", Dhir said, "I am glad that at least they (Congress) have admitted to it, however late."
Gandhi has drawn a sharp reaction from opposition parties for his contention that the Narendra Modi government in Gujarat was responsible for "abetting and pushing" the 2002 riots in the state while the Congress government had tried to stop the violence against Sikhs in 1984.

Meanwhile, on Kejriwal's announcement that he wanted to hold the Cabinet sitting to pass the Jan Lokpal Bill at Ramlila Maidan here, Dhir said, "The wisdom lies with the government and the Lt Governor to decide the date and the day (of the meet). Speaker's authority begins only once the House is summoned.