SAD seeks NHRC intervention in 1984 anti-Sikh riots cases

New Delhi, Nov 4 : Blaming the Centre for 'blatently misusing' its powers to save the guilty of 1984 anti-Sikh riots, the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) today sought the intervention of National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) into the cases to pressurise the government to take immediate action.

''We have urged the Commission to ask the Centre to speed up the trial of criminal cases against the accused -- Congress leader Jagdish Tytler and former MP Sajjan Kumar -- in compliance of the Nanavati Commission,'' Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal told mediapersons here.

Mr Badal, who is also the SAD president, led a delegation of MPs and other party members, including SGPC president Jathedar Avtar Singh, to the Commission this afternoon. They submitted a memorandum to the NHRC Chairman regarding the same.

The Commission has been asked to pursue the CBI to file the chargesheets in the cases at the earliest.

In addition, the Commission has also been requested to take up the case with the High Court for starting a day-to-day trial in the cases.

''The Commission should intervene in the cases even after the chargesheet was filed and appoint its own lawyer to assist the public prosecutor,'' Mr Badal said.

The party will also hold prayer meetings at all the Gurdwaras in the country in remembrance of the people who had lost their lives in the carnage. According to officials, 2,733 people had died in the riots.

Calling it the biggest violation of human rights both by the government and the CBI, he said, ''The CBI had sought permission of the government to prosecute Sajjan Kumar, one of the accused, even when the law categorically said it was not required.'' ''This is a deliberate tactic of the CBI to delay the delivery of justice and put hurdles in the path of a speedy and fair trial,'' Mr Badal added.

About when the Commission was likely to take action in this regard, Mr Badal said he could not comment on that. ''The Commission was shocked at the details given to them. Now it is upto them to take further action,'' he said.

--UNI

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