BJP to Organise Conclave on 1984 Anti-Sikh Massacre in Chandigarh on November 4
CHANDIGARH— The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will organise a conclave titled ‘Zakhm 84 De’ in Chandigarh on November 4 to highlight the 1984 anti-Sikh massacre, the experiences of survivors, their decades-long struggle for justice and efforts towards the rehabilitation of affected families.
Announcing the programme on Saturday, BJP state chief Kewal Singh Dhillon said the conclave would seek to familiarise younger generations with the events surrounding the massacre and the subsequent legal and social struggles of the victims.
He said the initiative was intended to revisit one of the most painful chapters in India’s history and bring attention to the suffering of survivors, questions of accountability and the pursuit of justice.
Dhillon said the programme would begin with a special exhibition featuring photographs and documentation related to the 1984 violence, providing visitors, particularly young people, an opportunity to understand the scale and impact of the tragedy.
The conclave will comprise an inaugural session followed by four thematic discussions.
Former Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad, who represented victims in legal proceedings related to the Sajjan Kumar case before the Delhi High Court and the Supreme Court, will deliver the keynote address at the inaugural session.
The first session, titled ‘When and How Did the Genocide Take Place?’, will feature survivors recounting their personal experiences and describing the events they witnessed during the 1984 violence.
The second session, ‘Was the Genocide a Conspiracy?’, will examine allegations that the anti-Sikh violence was part of a larger conspiracy. Participants will include senior Supreme Court advocate H.S. Phoolka, who pursued legal cases on behalf of victims for several decades; former National Commission for Minorities chairman Tarlochan Singh; and BJP national spokesperson R.P. Singh.
The third session, titled ‘Murder of Justice’, will examine allegations of denial of justice to victims, destruction of evidence and political protection allegedly extended to those accused of involvement in the violence.
The fourth session, ‘Punishing the Guilty: BJP’s Efforts’, will focus on the party’s stated role in supporting victims, pursuing accountability and seeking legal action against those held responsible for the massacre.
The concluding session will address the rehabilitation of families affected by the 1984 violence and the measures taken to help survivors rebuild their lives.
Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini will attend the session and speak about rehabilitation initiatives undertaken by BJP-led governments for victims and their families, Dhillon said.
The 1984 anti-Sikh violence followed the assassination of then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi on October 31, 1984, by two of her Sikh bodyguards. Thousands of Sikhs were killed in attacks across several parts of the country, particularly in Delhi. The violence and the subsequent decades-long struggle for justice remain a significant issue in India’s political and judicial history. (Source: IANS)
