1984 riots accused should be punished, says Punjab Deputy CM Sukhbir Singh Badal

Punjab government will build pressure on the NDA government to punish those involved in the killing of Sikhs during 1984 riots, Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal said on Friday.

The Shiromani Akali Dal president said the government's decision to give an additional compensation of Rs 5 lakh each to the next of kin of the victims of 1984 anti-Sikh riots was "mere beginning of the procedure to balm their wounds".

"Along with compensation, the accused should be awarded strict punishment for which SAD will leave no stone unturned to pressurise the central government," he said.

On Thursday, the central government announced that it will provide Rs five lakh each to the next of kin of 3,325 victims of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots triggered after assassination of the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.

Terming Rs 50 hike in the Minimum Support Price (MSP) of wheat as a "small measure", he said Prime Minister Narendra Modi would be approached to increase this hike by at least Rs 150 to Rs 200 per quintal.
On the issue of black money stashed abroad, he said the Centre should make the list of account holders public so that every Indian could know about it.