In a deeply emotional ceremony at the Delhi Secretariat on Tuesday (May 27), Chief Minister Rekha Gupta handed over government job appointment letters to 19 relatives of victims killed in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, a tragic episode that remains one of the darkest chapters in India’s modern history. The event, attended by Delhi Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa and other dignitaries, marked a significant step toward justice and rehabilitation for families who have endured four decades of grief, loss, and systemic neglect. The appointments, part of an ongoing relief effort, underscore a belated attempt to address the pain of thousands of Sikh families affected by the violence, while also highlighting the prolonged indifference of successive governments toward their plight.
A Dark Chapter in Indian History
The 1984 anti-Sikh riots erupted in the aftermath of the assassination of then-Prime Minister Indira Gandhi on October 31, 1984, by her Sikh bodyguards, Satwant Singh and Beant Singh. The assassination was a response to Operation Blue Star, a military operation ordered by Gandhi in June 1984 to flush out Sikh militants, led by Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, from the Golden Temple in Amritsar. The operation, which resulted in significant damage to the holiest Sikh shrine and the deaths of hundreds, including civilians, inflamed tensions within the Sikh community.
Gandhi’s assassination triggered a wave of retaliatory violence against Sikhs across India, particularly in Delhi, Kanpur, and other northern cities. In the national capital, mobs armed with weapons, kerosene, and voter lists systematically targeted Sikh homes, businesses, and gurdwaras. Over three days, from October 31 to November 3, 1984, thousands of Sikhs were killed—official estimates cite 2,733 deaths in Delhi alone, though Sikh organisations and survivors claim the toll exceeded 4,000. Men, women, and children were beaten, burned alive, or hacked to death, while entire neighbourhoods, such as Trilokpuri, Sultanpuri, and Mangolpuri, were devastated. Sikh-owned shops and properties were looted and razed, leaving families destitute.
“For those who lost loved ones, no compensation can ever be enough for their pain. We cannot undo the past, but we can certainly improve their present,” Chief Minister Gupta said during the ceremony. “This is more than a bureaucratic decision—it is a restoration of rightful entitlements.” Her words resonated with the 19 recipients, who received appointment letters for multi-tasking staff (MTS) roles in the revenue department, a small but symbolic gesture toward addressing the enduring trauma of the riots.
Emotional Moments and Long-Awaited Justice
The ceremony was charged with emotion as recipients, many of whom lost parents or siblings in the violence, accepted their appointment letters. Joginder Singh, who was just three years old when his father was killed in the riots, struggled to contain his emotions. “Ab hum matha tekne ja rahe hai (Now, we are going to pay obedience to God),” Singh said, clutching his letter. For him, the job offer represents not only financial security but also an acknowledgement of his family’s suffering after decades of silence.
Delhi Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa, a prominent Sikh leader in the BJP government, emphasised the personal significance of the event. “This moment is deeply personal—not just as a minister, but as a member of a Sikh family that has endured this pain, this wait, this hope,” Sirsa said. “I proudly say today that this government has finally delivered what should have been theirs decades ago.” He highlighted the government’s decision to relax eligibility criteria, which had previously barred many applicants from securing jobs due to educational or age restrictions. “This appointment is historic in itself, as the Delhi Government has even relaxed eligibility conditions to ensure justice is served,” he added.
Chief Minister Gupta hailed Prime Minister Narendra Modi for prioritising justice for the riot victims. “This is not just an appointment—it is justice walking into their lives after 40 years of silence and struggle,” she asserted. She described the initiative as a “landmark” in recognising the dignity and identity of affected families, a sentiment echoed by community leaders present at the event.
A History of Neglect by Successive Governments
The 1984 riots have long been a source of pain for the Sikh community, compounded by the failure of successive governments to deliver justice or adequate rehabilitation. In the immediate aftermath, the Congress-led central government, under Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, faced widespread criticism for its inaction. Gandhi’s infamous remark, “When a big tree falls, the earth shakes,” was perceived by many as trivialising the violence, further alienating survivors. Police and law enforcement agencies were accused of complicity, with reports of officers standing by as mobs attacked Sikh communities.
Over the decades, multiple commissions of inquiry—such as the Misra Commission (1985), the Jain-Banerjee Committee (1987), and the Nanavati Commission (2000)—were established to investigate the riots. However, their findings were often criticised as inadequate, and few perpetrators faced prosecution. High-profile Congress leaders implicated in the violence, such as Jagdish Tytler and Sajjan Kumar, evaded accountability for years. It was not until 2018 that Kumar was convicted for his role in the riots, a rare instance of justice that came too late for many victims.
Compensation for survivors was equally slow and inconsistent. Initial payouts were meager—often as low as Rs 10,000 for a death—and bureaucratic hurdles made it difficult for families to access even these funds. Many survivors, displaced and impoverished, struggled to rebuild their lives without adequate government support. “The indifference of consecutive governments left us feeling abandoned,” said Atma Singh Lubana, Vice-Chairperson of the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee, who has advocated for victims since 1998. “For years, we were told to move on, but how do you move on when justice is denied?”
Lubana pointed out that many applicants for government jobs were uneducated and unable to meet standard eligibility criteria. “It wasn’t until 2024 that this requirement was waived,” he said, crediting the current administration for taking steps to address these barriers. However, he raised concerns about aging applicants, many of whom were in their 20s during the riots and are now over 60, rendering them ineligible for government service. “We are demanding that in such cases, the grandchild of the victim be offered the appointment instead,” Lubana urged, highlighting the need for further reforms.
Ongoing Relief Efforts
Tuesday’s ceremony is part of a broader initiative to provide relief to riot-affected families. Last November, Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena distributed job letters to 50 individuals, followed by 89 more in January 2025, ahead of the Delhi Assembly elections. With the latest batch, the total number of appointments under the government’s relief scheme has reached 158. Over 650 applications have been submitted following camps organised at district magistrate offices, indicating the scale of the demand for support.
The Delhi government’s efforts extend beyond the 1984 riots. Chief Minister Gupta addressed the plight of Kashmiri Pandits, who faced similar violence and displacement in the 1990s, and families affected by the Covid-19 pandemic who have not received adequate compensation. “To address this, a special committee has been formed to identify such cases and provide financial support,” the government announced, signalling a broader commitment to addressing historical injustices.
The Long Road to Closure
The 1984 riots remain a sensitive and unresolved issue for the Sikh community. Survivors and advocates continue to demand accountability for the perpetrators, many of whom remain unpunished. The government’s recent actions, while welcomed, are seen as a small step in a long journey toward justice. “The pain of 1984 is not just about the lives lost but the dignity stripped away from an entire community,” said Harpreet Kaur, a social worker who has supported riot-affected families. “These jobs are a start, but true closure requires remembrance, accountability, and sustained support.”
The ceremony concluded with a sense of cautious optimism. For recipients like Joginder Singh, the appointment letters symbolise a hard-fought recognition of their resilience. Yet, the scars of 1984 run deep, and the Sikh community continues to seek a reckoning with the past. As Chief Minister Gupta noted, “By distributing these appointment letters, the Delhi government has not just provided jobs, but also recognised the dignity and identity of thousands of families who had waited decades for justice.”
The event serves as a reminder of the importance of addressing historical wrongs, even decades later. For the Sikh community, the fight for justice is far from over, but initiatives like these offer a glimmer of hope that their voices are finally being heard.
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