Members of the Danga Peerat Welfare Society, representing victims of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, suspended their hunger strike on Saturday after Punjab Governor Gulab Chand Kataria assured them that he would take up their demands with the state government. At least six women from the association had been on a fast-unto-death to press for due compensation and basic facilities.
Delegation meets Governor
A delegation of the association, led by president Surjit Singh Dugri, met Kataria at Punjab Bhawan in Chandigarh. They briefed him about the pending issues and requested his intervention. Kataria promptly called the Punjab Chief Secretary to seek information regarding the unresolved matters of the riot victims.
Speaking to the media after the meeting, Dugri confirmed that Bibi Gurdeep Kaur, women’s wing president of the association, and five other women called off their hunger strike following the Governor’s assurances.
Decades of struggle
Dugri highlighted that thousands of families have been deprived of basic facilities for the past 42 years, and many have not received justice despite years of struggle. He noted that the previous Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) government had taken some decisions regarding the riot victims, but the subsequent Congress and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) governments put those decisions on hold.
He also pointed out that the Punjab and Haryana High Court had ordered the provision of facilities to the families of the victims, but the AAP government has refused to accept the orders. The association continues to demand implementation of the court’s directives and fair compensation for all affected families.
