We will not forget you ... Sisters!

It has been torturous 32 years for the widows and children of those brutally killed in a mass genocide directed against the minority Sikh community in India's capital - Delhi. They wail for their men - husbands, fathers, brothers, sons, and grandsons asking for justice ,, so far denied systematically by the corrupt politicians, colluding police officers, and failed judiciary.

A Widow of 1984 Sikh Genocide in Delhi

We have also failed to wipe their tears and provide a lasting healing touch to these victims. There has been repeated demands from selfish interests, including some soul-less Sikhs asking us to "Forget and Forgive". I want to reiterate once again, that we will never ever forget the innocent victims who lost their lives in this organized crime, countless widows, orphans, and aging mothers who could not even cremate their family members with dignity.

1984 Sikh Genocide

The 1984 genocide of Sikhs was a series of pogroms directed against Sikhs in India, by mobs, most notably by members of the Congress party. After the assassination of Indira Gandhi on 31 October 1984, by two of her Sikh bodyguards, anti-Sikh violence erupted on 1 November 1984, and continued in some areas for days, killing more than 3,000 Sikhs in New Delhi and perhaps 8,000 or more in 40 cities throughout India. Sultanpuri, Mangolpuri, Trilokpuri, and other Trans-Yamuna areas of Delhi were the worst affected.

Widows and children of Sikhs killed in 84 Genocide

Official Indian government reports admit to about 2800 deaths across India, including 2100 in Delhi. Other independent sources estimate the number of deaths to be around 8,000, including at least 3,000 in Delhi. The Central Bureau of Investigation, the main Indian investigating agency, believes the acts of violence were organised by the ruling Congress party leadeers with the support from the then Delhi police and some central government officials.

Burnt homes and properties of Sikhs

Mobs carried iron rods, knives, clubs, and combustible material, including kerosene and petrol. The mobs swarmed into Sikh neighbourhoods, arbitrarily killing any Sikh men or women they could find. Their shops and houses were ransacked and burned. In other incidents, armed mobs stopped buses and trains, in and around Delhi, pulling out Sikh passengers to be lynched or doused with kerosene and burnt alive. Others were dragged out from their homes and hacked to death with bladed weapons. Sikh women were reportedly gang-raped. Most times, the mobs were led by government officials, police, and political leaders.

Armed mob killing Sikhs on streets of Delhi

So who were behind this grusome genocide?

 According to a report belatedly commissioned by the Government of India in 2000, “but for the backing and help of influential and resourceful persons, killing of Sikhs so swiftly and in large numbers could not have happened.”

In 2011, Human Rights Watch reported the Government of India had "yet to prosecute those responsible for the mass killings". The 2011 WikiLeaks cable leaks revealed that the United States was convinced about the complicity of the Indian government ruled by the Indian National Congress in the riots, and termed it as "opportunism" and "hatred" of the Congress government against Sikhs.

Prominent Congress leaders of Delhi in 1984 - HKL Bhagat, Sajjan Kumar, and Jagdish Tytler

It was an outcome of a well organized plan marked by important politicians of the Indian National Congress party and authorities in the administration. It is alleged that, the massacre of Sikhs was planned in a meeting organized at 24 Akbar Road, New Delhi on October 31, 1984 attended by members of Parliament and senior members of the Congress party including Arun Nehru, Jagdish Tytler, Sajjan Kumar, Kamal Nath, Dharam Das Shastri, Vasant Sathe, HKL Bhagat, Lalit Makhen, Arjun Das amongst others.

Amitabh Bachchan, Rajiv Gandhi, General Vaidya with dead corpse of Indira Gandhi

State media showed inflammatory speeches and scenes. Popular movie stars like Amitabh Bachchan shown on state television raising slogans like  "Khoon ka badla khoon" (blood for blood) and "Khoon ke chintey sikhon ke ghar tak pahunchni chahiye" (Splashes of blood should reach the doorsteps of Sikhs).

So who were these Congress leaders?

1. HKL Bhagat

Hari Krishan Lal Bhagat (4 April 1921 – 29 October 2005) was born in Montgomery, Pakistan and was an Indian politician of the Congress party. A strong Indira Gandhi loyalist,was known as the uncrowned King of East Delhi in the 1980s. He held important political positions, including Mayor of Delhi, Minister of Information and Broadcasting.

HKL Bhagat in Delhi after Sikh Genocide

Towards the end of his political career, he was indicted by the Nanavati Commission for his involvement in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots. Riot victims testified that Bhagat led groups of armed attackers and incited them to violence. He personally went to Shahdara Thana, Gandhi Nagar Police station to get miscreants of “84′ Sikh Genocide” released. One witness Satnami Bai saw Bhagat inciting a mob.Other witnesses have recorded how Bhagat sought to force witnesses not to name him during the investigation. The Commission concluded that there was "credible evidence" that Bhagat "probably... had a hand in organizing attacks on Sikhs"; it recommended the Government "take further action as may be found necessary." Bhagat was publicly condemned by the Sikhs and social activists like Khushwant Singh, Guru Radha Kishan, Habib Tanveer and Amrita Pritam for his role in Sikh riots in Delhi and lead to his expulsion from the party after few years.

However, since then Bhagat was "afflicted" with a series of illnesses, beginning with one in the courtroom itself, where he first complained of chest pain. Taken to the hospital, where he was to spend the next 12 days, the 75-year-old Bhagat kept the doctors busy by complaining of more illnesses - almost every day. While it was chest pains in the beginning, two days later he complained of "hazy vision" and was taken to the Guru Nanak Eye Centre. In the coming days, he was to have cardiac problems, enlarged prostate, asthma, giddiness, high blood pressure and then low blood pressure. But doctors attending him felt there was nothing much to the complaints. Says a G.B. Pant Hospital doctor: "Though he did complain of various illnesses, nothing conclusive was found..."

The government ultimately declined to prosecute Bhagat because of his poor health by that time. He died after prolonged illness and was in coma before his death in October 2005.

2. Lalit Maken

Lalit Maken was an aspiring youth leader of Congress party and member of parliament with close connections to the leadership. Maken was the son-in-law of Indian President of India Dr. Shankar Dayal Sharma. He reportedly paid the mobsters Rs.100 each plus a bottle of liquor. A white Ambassador car reportedly belonging to him came four times to the GT Road area near Azadpur. Instructions to mobs indulging in arson were given from inside the car. In a 31-page booklet titled 'Who Are The Guilty', People's Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) listed 227 people who led the mobs, which killed up to 3,000 Sikhs over three days. Lalit Maken's name was third on the list.

Maken and his wife Gitanjali  were gunned down by Harjinder Singh Jinda, Sukhdev Singh Sukha and Ranjit Singh Gill alias Kukki for his involvement in Riots outside Mr. Maken's Kirti Nagar residence in West Delhi on 31 July 1985. All three assailants continued firing even as Maken ran towards his house for cover. Maken's wife Geetanjali and a visitor, Balkishan, were also caught in the firing, and all the three died on the spot.

Avantika Maken and Ranjit Singh Gill

In 2008, Avantika Maken, the daughter of Lalit and Gitanjali Maken met Ranjit Singh "Kuki" Gill and asked for his pardon. Avantika pardoned Kukki and did not object to the Delhi government’s decision to commute his life sentence.

3. Sajjan Kumar

Sajjan Kumar (born 23 September 1945) is an Indian politician belonging to the Indian National Congress party. He was a member of Indian Parliament representing Outer Delhi constituency. Sajjan Kumar is one of the most notable persons accused in connection with the 1984 anti-Sikh riots.

Eyewitnesses have testified how Sajjan Kumar incited mobs to kill Sikhs in the aftermath of Indira Gandhi's assassination. In 2012, the Central Bureau of Investigation prosecutor told a Delhi court that riots targeting the Sikhs had the "patronage" of Sajjan Kumar. CBI alleged that he organised anti-Sikh riots and he along with five others are being tried at court for killing six Sikh people. Ever since Sajjan Kumar has been produced in courts multiple times and the cases are still pending in high courts. He continues to get support from the Congress party, Delhi Police, and Outer Delhi residents. Congress party was forced by public outcry to cancel his candidacy for parliament elections twice after naming him.

Sajjan Kumar escaping the Delhi High Courts escorted by Delhi Police

4 Arjan Das

Arjun Das, 46, a member of the Delhi Metropolitan Council and a Congress-I party activist who was one of the prime accused in the genocide of Sikhs in 1984. A Punjabi Hindu by origin, Arjun Dass was seen leading the mobs outside the All-India Medical Institute when the first violence against Sikhs broke out. He was also accused of attacking the cavalcade of President Giani Zail Singh when he visited All India medical Institute.

Three gunmen shouting "Khalistan"--the name of the independent homeland sought by Sikh separatists--Wednesday assassinated a City Council member who was a family friend of Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. The politician's police bodyguard was also slain.

After he learned of the killings Wednesday morning, Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi went immediately to the hospital and met with the Das family. An aide to Gandhi described Das as "a good worker who was close to the (Gandhi) family." Das was a member and former president of the Delhi Flying Club, to which Gandhi also belonged.

5. Jagdish Tytler

Jagdish Tytler (b. 11 January 1944 as Jagdish Singh Kapoor) is an Indian National Congress politician and former member of the Parliament of India. He was the Minister of State for Overseas Indian Affairs, a position he resigned from after an official commission of inquiry noted the 'balance of probability' indicated he was accused of inciting and leading murderous mobs against the Sikh community in Delhi after Sikh bodyguards assassinated Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi during the 1984 anti-Sikh Genocide, a charge he denies.

The official report of the Nanavati Commission of the Government of India on the 1984 anti-Sikh riots found 'credible evidence' against Tytler, saying he 'very probably' had a hand in organising the attacks. The Indian government, however, decided not to prosecute Jagdish Tytler due to lack of concrete evidence. He allegedly intruded into press conference of the Police Commissioner, Mr. S C Tondon, on November 6 and told him, by arresting my men you are obstructing the relief work for the victims.

6. BABURAM SHARMA, Municipal Corporation Member (Ward No. 58).
He is a confidant of Mr. Bhagat's. The allegations against him are : He led the violent mob on a motorbike and mike in hand and is responsible for killings in Baabarpur, Chajupur, Maujpur and Ghonda in East Delhi.

7, DHARAMDAS SHASHTRI, Congress (I) MP from Karol Bagh
He is alleged to have provided the list of Sikh houses and shops with electoral roll as the source. According to press reports of November 5, 1984, he is also alleged to have pressurised police officials in Karol Bagh police station to release from custody those arrested for the anti-Sikh violence.

8. MANGATRAM SINGAL, Municipal Corporation Member, (Ward No.32)
He is alleged to have been in the company of Dharmadas Shastri during the violence.

9, Dr. ASHOK KUMAR, Municipal Corporation Member, Kalyanpuri.
It is alleged that violence was sparked off after he held a meeting with Congress workers and supporters and that he was leading the crowd which indulged in large scale violence, including, killing, burning, looting and gang-rape of women. Dr. Ashok Kumar was murdered by unidentified persons in his clinic in 2012.

10. SUKHANLAL SOOD, Metropolitan Councillor.
Eye witness accounts allege that he led the violent mob and that he brought lists of Sikh houses and petrol (used to burn Sikhs alive) to the scene of violence. Later, when he went to the Shakarpur relief camp to distribute food AND sweets to the survivors, some women recognised him and had himchased out of the camp.

11. JAGDISH CHANDER TOKAS, Municipal Corporation Member, Munirka, Ward NO. 14.
He is alleged to have led the violent mob in sector 4 and 5 of R. K. PURAM.

12. ISHWAR SINGH, Municipal Corporation Member, Mongolpuri, Ward NO. 37.
He is alleged to have led the violent mob in Mongolpuri.

13. BALWANT KHOKAR, Youth Congress (I) Leader, Delhi.
He is alleged to have instigated the violent mob in Palam Colony.

14. FAIZ MOHAMMED, Youth Congress (I) Leader, Delhi.
Survivors in the Shakarpur relief camp and residents of Mongolpuri say that he was directly involved in the violence.

15. RATTAN, Delhi Youth Congress (I) Leader.
He is alleged to have been directly involved in the Palam Colony violence.

16. SATBIR SINGH, Youth Congress (I) Member.
He is alleged to have brought a busload of criminals to Guru Harkishen School in Munirka and participated in looting and burning the school down.

17, MALA RAM, Local Congress (I) Leader
Came with 300 People and personally supervised the arson, looting and murders.

18, SALIM QUERISHI and SHAUKEEN , Congress (I) workers belonging to the Waqf board.

19. MALHOTRA, Assistant Commissioner Police East Delhi.
He is alleged to have called the mob to the police station and told it that It "should have demolished the gurudwara as well (the mob killed???Bhatia, a Sikh Congress worker). Besides, Malhotra is alleged to have accompanied the mob to the scene of violence. He was in a jeep, armed with arevolver, accompanied by two sten-gun wielding cops. Following him were two station wagons in which cans of petrol were kept. He is said to have handed over weapons to the mob and instigated the mob that came to the police station from Gurunangal Nagar and Lakshminagar.

20. RAVRAM MEHAR, SHO, Shankarpur.
He is alleged to have identified Sikh houses and shops.

21. HARIRAM BHATTI, SHO, Sultanpuri.
He is alleged to have disarmed Sikhs of their small weapons of defence and On November 2, personally killed some Sikhs. Also , on November 3 and4, he made Sikh men cut their hair on gunpoint.

22. ROHTAS SINGH, SHO, Sadar.
He is alleged to have personally indulged in burning down Sikh houses.

23. SHOORVIR SINGH, SHO, Kalyanpuri.
He reached Trilokpuri at 2.30 p.m. on November 1 when violence was on, is alleged to have ordered two constables on duty there to go away, thus giving the mob a free hand at violence.

24. R.D. SINGH, Sub-Inspector, Durgapuri.
According to survivors in the Loni Road, Gurudwara relief camp, Singh instigated the mob and personally beat to death some Sikhs.


TRILOKPURI

BLOCK 5

1. Papita, a gangster

BLOCK 12

2. Brahmni (Mishrani) Shastri

BLOCK 14

3. Baleshwar Bhrgi alias Bhalu
4. Bal Kishan

BLOCK 21

5. Bihari Dhobi

BLOCK 25

6. B. D. Sharma

BLOCK 27

7. Israi Ali alias Chunnu
8. Salim, a notorious criminal
9. Massa, charas smuggler

BLOCK 28

10. Yayiha Siddiqui, clinic owner on the main road of Block 27
11. Monu Singh, shopkeeper
12. Soni, railway employee
13. Mukesh

BLOCK 29

14. Mukri Master

BLOCK 30

15. Om Parkash alias Omi, mason
16. Ved Parkash, brother of omi and head mason by vocation
17. Noor Jahan
18. Karamat, cement-seller
19. Shabnam, owner of a TV shop
20. Damesh
21. Punju
22. Salim
23. Advas's son in law (Abbas of Block 32)
24. Mukri, video shop owner
25. Hasin

BLOCK 31

26. Kamruddinm four-mill owner
27. Nayamat Ali
28. Neenav, tea shop owner
29. Dr. V. P. Singh
30. Duli Chand, local gangster
31. Rampal Saroj, Congress (I) leader
32. Gopal Singh
33. Kishori Lal and his four brothers, manely, Shravan, Shiya Chote and Kamal who are a alleged to have brutally murdered four Sikhs, Hukam Singh, Teerath Singh, Sajjan Singh and Soma Singh.
34. Jaggi Sansi and his wife, Draupdi
35. Kharak Singh Pradhan
36. Gaffar Khan, cement seller
37. Manu Sansi
38. Aasim
39. Somnath, alleged to have killed Hoshiar Singh (son of Milap Singh) alongwith three other men after locking them in a room and setting it on fire
40. Ajit
41. Kadir
42. Monga
43. Sati
44. Telo Sansi, Draupdi's sister
45. Rooplal, who is alleged to have murdered Labh Singh
46. Omi Chamar, cobbler
47. Murari, vegetable-seller with a shop in Block 31
48. Pehlvaan, brother of Rashid
49. Bachchan
50. Aziz
51. Ansar
52. Kallo Khan, dhaba-owner
53. Abbaas, cloth and shoe shop owner in Block 27
54. Dr. Lambu
55. Bhallo, boot legger
56. Kayamat Ali
57. Raju Bhangi
58. Jaggi
59. Bhaiyya
60. Murli Khan
61. Sher Khan
62. Raju Ram
63. Bedhu Ram, alleged to have killed in 31/99 and 32/97 Blocks

BLOCK 33

64. Pappu
65. Bhoom, local gangster
66. Gyani, student
67. Mohhamed, bicycle shop-owner
68. Birju
69. Zakir
70. Kamal Singh, rickshaw-owner
71. Munshi
72. Rashid, cycle Rickshaw shop-owner in block 32
98. Ganapt, shop-owner
99. Piriya, Gujarati
100. Gurbat Bhai
101. Islam
102. Rao
103. Changa Doctor
104. Omi three-wheeler driver
105. Garib Das
106. Dharmanand, kerosene-shop owner

BLOCK A-5

107. Hasla Ram
108. Mangla
109. Satbir
110. Salam

BLOCK B-1

111. Pal Brahman
112. Shambhu
113. Kheesamvaija
114. Kumar

BLOCK C-3

115. Gopal and brother
116. Tiwari
117. Raghubir and Bangi
118. Pratap Bhangi
119. Vajuje

BLOCK C-4

120. Barji Lal and his son
121. Kala Ram and his two son
122. Prem Singh Muchiwala, property dealer
123. Jai Kishen Bhangi
124. Danny
125. Pappu
126. Mohan Lal, son of Thekedar Komal

BLOCK P-3

127. Taar Chand, Carpenter
128. Master, kerosene shop-owner
129. Radhe Shyam, mechanic
130. Babu Lal, vegetable-seller
131. Sikander's brother
132. Gulab Singh, godown-owner

MONGOL PURI

133. Hardwari Lal, Mandal Pradhan
134. Narendra Singh, Congress (I) worker
135. Salim Quereshi, Congress (I) worker
136. Shaukeen, Congress (I) worker
137. Rajinder
138. Shiv Charan

MAUJPUR, GHONDA

140. Biro Joginder, kerosene shop owner
141. Trilok, flour mill-owner
142. Gupta, paper-seller
143. Delu Ram, tailor
144. Bhola Doodhwala
145. Balbir Doodhwala's son
146. Prem Nai
147. Gyan Malwai
148. Natgayan's son

SHAKAR PUR

150. Bhatia, Congress (I) worker
151. Dogra, Congress (I) worker
152. Singh, Congress (I) worker
153. Lakshmi dhoban
154. Aswani, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) worker
155. Satpal, hotel-owner
156. Ashok Kumar, flour mill-owner
157. Ram Niwas Sharma
158. Rohtas Singh of Shkarpur village

KHAJURI KHAAS

159. Kadam Singh, Panchayat Chief
160. Kadam Singh's nephews
161. Nambat Singh, ration shop-owner
162. Sham Lal, retired assistant sub-inspector
163. Jai Singh, kerosene shop-owner
164. Jugnu
165. Parsa

JANAKPURI

166. Pratap, Chief of the village administrative body, Sagarpur, who is alleged to have killed 22 people

BLOCK C

167. Dabbu Bhangi
168. Kalia Bhangi
169. Upli Bhangi
170. Son Sassi
171. Mohan Sassi
172. Raju Bhangi
173. Malaram, who distributed kerosene oil free to the killers

MANDAVALI-UNCHPUR

175. Sachdeva, property-dealer
176. Raj Kalia, cement-seller
177. Gupta, grocery shop-owner
178. Ram Prakash, worker in a khadi shop
179. Dharampal
180. Kishen Dutt
181. Babu Das
182. Joshi

RAJ NAGAR

183. Balwant Khokar
184. Mohinder Singh Baragdola
185. Iswar Chand Sharma
186. Pandit Ram Niwas
187. Pandit Tara Chand

SADAR BAZAR

188. Kamal Dhobi
189. David, son of the Dhobi
190. Vinayak and his family members

SAGARPUR

192. Munna, tv store owner
193. Puppi, Shnat Bahmni's son who lives in street 21-22
194. John Bambaiwalla

SULTANPURI

195. Brahmanand Gupta
196. Bera Nand
197. Master and Ved Parkash
198. Doctor Changa
199. Hanuman Rashawala Gujr
200. Gulab Singh (Godown owner)
201. Omi (three wheeler driver)

Rajiv Gandhi was sworn in as Prime Minister after his mother's death and, when asked about the riots, said "when a big tree falls, the earth shakes" Does this statement provide historical admission of guilt? was the Congress leadership involved all the way to the top? Only time will tell ... when the Truth will finally prevail, I am willing to wait for that day.

References

1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1984_anti-Sikh_riots
2. http://time.com/3545867/india-1984-sikh-genocide-anniversary/
3. http://www.sikhsforjustice.org/?q=content/know-the-facts
4. http://www.tehelka.com/2005/10/hkl-bhagat-a-witness-won-over/
5. http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/one-ailment-after-another-helps-former-union-minister-h.k.l.-bhagat-stay-out-of-prison/1/283464.html
6. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lalit_Maken
7. http://www.telegraphindia.com/1130413/jsp/nation/story_16781031.jsp#.WA9b2PkrLIU
8. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jagdish_Tytler
9. http://www.ndtv.com/delhi-news/sajjan-kumar-jagdish-tytler-will-campaign-in-delhi-says-congress-689288
10. http://singhstation.net/2014/10/top-10-architects-of-1984-sikh-genocide/
11. http://www.tehelka.com/2005/10/sajjan-kumar-with-help-from-the-police/
12. http://www.sikhmatrimonials.com/Sikhnet/discussion.nsf/78f5a2ff8906d1788725657c00732d6c/a902f4a849c977ad872569c9005d935d!OpenDocument