Voices

Justice G.T. Nanavati: The ATR is not for my satisfaction. It is to face Parliament. It is to tell Parliament what action has been taken by the government on the recommendations of theCommission. I have no feelings. I am satisfied that I have completed my work.

H. S. Phulka, advocate who represented the victims before theCommission: The report is highly disappointing. After over 20 years of fight, we realised that this country is not governed by the rule oflaw.

Bibi Jagir Kaur, chief, SGPC: This report is a mere eyewash to protect Congress leaders in view of the forthcoming elections. It's an incomplete report and the Sikh community rejectsit. It's nothing but a false report which is far from facts. Only the Akali Dal will decide whether it will press for setting up a new commission to look intothe 1984 anti-Sikh riots. (On being asked whether the SGPC ascribed for constituting a fresh commission to probe the riots).The Sikh community knows who are responsible for the riots. The delay in tabling the report was done to exonerate those who are behindit. The Congress has tried to save it's loyal men by presenting a confused report.

Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, senior leader, Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal):The commission's report and the action taken report on it are an eyewash aimed at protecting senior Congressleaders. Twenty one years have passed and nine inquiry commissions have submitted their reports but none of the guilty of the riotswere punished.

Sukhbir Singh Badal, leader, SAD (Badal): The report and ATRbetrayed the anti-Sikh attitude of Congress.

Kuldeep Singh Bhogal, president, All- India Riot Victims Relief Committee:There is no hope of justice left and we have lost all faith in the government. We were denied justice 21 years back and no justice has been given now... Prime Minister Manmohan Singh should immediately resign on moralgrounds.

G.S. Babbar, president, All-India Sikh Conference: The Commission report has been of no use. The Action Take Report has totally gone against it and now there is no other quarter left forjustice.

Wg Cdr R.S. Chatwal, Sikh Forum: If the Commission report had used the phrase 'very probably' for Jagdish Tytler's involvement, the government could have atleast ordered an inquiry intoit.

Tarlochan Singh, chairman, National Commission for Minorities:The report has totally belied the hopes of the victims and minority communities.Though the Commission had taken five years to prepare the report, it was almost likethe previous ones and is also likely to go into the archives without any action beingtaken. The purpose of the ATR seemed only to dilute whatever little recommendations have been made by theCommission.

S.S. Ahluwalia, senior leader, BJP: The killing of Sikhs wasgenocide. The report has tried to exenorate those involved. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh himself was a Sikh and the ATR of the government on the report has dealt a blow to hisimage.

Nilotpal Basu, MP, CPI-M: We do not want to respond right now as we have not gone through the entire report and theATR arising out of it. We will respond after studying it.

We are neither satisfied nor dissatisfied but we are not going to condoneanybody.

Vijay Kumar Malhotra , spokesperson, BJP: The ATR is actually a 'whitewash report' in which an attempt has been made to save all the accused in the massacre.It has only served to rub salt on the wounds of the victims affected by the riots who were expectingjustice.It is indeed shameful that while the riots took place when Giani Zail Singh (a Sikh) was the country's President, theCabinet headed by Sardar Manmohan Singh has given its approval to the ATR.

We would like to know what was his compulsion, why is he feeling helpless and how did he approve it? If Zail Singh had resigned at that time, it would have further vitiated the anti-Sikh atmosphere but now the Prime Minister should have stepped down if his conscience did notpermit.

People occupying high positions including judges and journalists had deposed before the Commission on oath. The riots were not spontaneous but carried out in a planned manner. Though over 4,000 people were killed in Delhi and outside, the Government is refusing to takeaction.

The NDA would be constituting a committee which would study in detail the Commission'sreport. After studying it, the NDA will approach President Kalam to seek actionagainst those involved in it (the riots).