Human rights groups took out a protest march through the national capital on Saturday to seek justice for the victims of 1984 anti-Sikh riots on its 30th anniversary.
"Today, human rights groups have come together to demand justice for the victims of 1984 and also for punishment to the guilty. They are also demanding that wherever there has been communal violence and the people are killed in the name of religion or caste, the guilty should be punished, and the government should sternly deal with it," said senior advocate H.S. Phoolka, who also participated in the protest.
Another protestor poked fun at the compensation announced by the Centre to the kin of 1984 riots victims, saying it cannot be a substitute for justice.
"Any compensation cannot be substitute for justice, we are here for justice. You need to punish the guilty. Sajjan Kumar and Tytler, they are roaming free for the last 30 years, if you cannot punish the guilty, then history will repeat itself," he said.
"The government has to enact an anti-communal violence law which has been pending for 10 years. It's not a case of Sikhs only, but also of all the innocent citizens who were killed on the streets of Delhi in daylight," he added.
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Earlier on Thursday, the Centre had announced an additional compensation of Rupees five lakh each to the next of kin of people who had died in the massacre.
Meanwhile, Lok Raj Sangathan chief said those guilty of the massacre can neither be forgotten nor be forgiven.
"This event is a big example of how state organizes terrorism. It is a state organized act where innocent people have been killed and state organized terror can be prevented only by the people because no government can prevent it," he said.
Thousands were killed in the communal riots triggered by the assassination of former prime minister Indira Gandhi in 1984 by her bodyguards.