http://epaper.hindustantimes.com/ArticleText.aspx?article=08_11_2009_002_006&kword=&mode=1The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee has failed to keep its promise to provide relief to the next of kin of Sikh Armymen killed during the 1984 riots, Shiromani Akali Dal's exservicemen wing chief Col Partap Singh Phoolka (retd) has said.
A list of the Armymen killed was submitted to the SGPC and the Executive on March 24, 2008 passed a resolution to give Rs 1 lakh to the next of kin on the pattern of "dharmi faujis".
SGPC planned to give Rs 50,000 each as a one-time compensation, which was later doubled.
Col Phoolka said many reminders and visits to SGPC's office in Amritsar had failed to produce results. He claimed there were nearly 300 such families which suffered during the riots, of which 50 had been identified.
However, SGPC president Avtar Singh Makkar said they were in the process of verifying names. "We have not forgotten our promise. We have given compensation to eight such families," he added. Col Phoolka, the SGPC chief remarked, was levelling baseless allegations and the committee had kept the compensation fund aside.
Phoolka, on the other hand, claimed he was not aware of compensation being given to any family on the list submitted by him to the SGPC.
Col Phoolka after being made president of the ex-servicemen win of SAD was asked by then SAD president Parkash Singh Badal to locate such families.
He said a three-member committee was formed to verify such cases, but it never met. "I was made to make a wild goose chase by SGPC officials, but I made best efforts," he rued.
Col Phoolka said he had demanded red cards, jobs for a family member and status of martyrs for those killed, "but nothing happened and families of killed Army personnel now question me".
The Central government had given Rs 7 lakh as ex gratia to the families of Armymen killed in riots. It was alleged that after intervention of the state top brass, the SGPC had issued some compensation cheques in the back date.
The Nanavati Commission report, which inquired into the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, also mentioned that about 50 Armymen on duty, who were on the move when riots took place, were killed. The Army compensated families with retirement benefits. As per the Commission report, 45 were from Punjab, two each from Delhi and Haryana and one from Jammu and Kashmir..
Forwarded by forum member Tejwant Singh Malik
A list of the Armymen killed was submitted to the SGPC and the Executive on March 24, 2008 passed a resolution to give Rs 1 lakh to the next of kin on the pattern of "dharmi faujis".
SGPC planned to give Rs 50,000 each as a one-time compensation, which was later doubled.
Col Phoolka said many reminders and visits to SGPC's office in Amritsar had failed to produce results. He claimed there were nearly 300 such families which suffered during the riots, of which 50 had been identified.
However, SGPC president Avtar Singh Makkar said they were in the process of verifying names. "We have not forgotten our promise. We have given compensation to eight such families," he added. Col Phoolka, the SGPC chief remarked, was levelling baseless allegations and the committee had kept the compensation fund aside.
Phoolka, on the other hand, claimed he was not aware of compensation being given to any family on the list submitted by him to the SGPC.
Col Phoolka after being made president of the ex-servicemen win of SAD was asked by then SAD president Parkash Singh Badal to locate such families.
He said a three-member committee was formed to verify such cases, but it never met. "I was made to make a wild goose chase by SGPC officials, but I made best efforts," he rued.
Col Phoolka said he had demanded red cards, jobs for a family member and status of martyrs for those killed, "but nothing happened and families of killed Army personnel now question me".
The Central government had given Rs 7 lakh as ex gratia to the families of Armymen killed in riots. It was alleged that after intervention of the state top brass, the SGPC had issued some compensation cheques in the back date.
The Nanavati Commission report, which inquired into the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, also mentioned that about 50 Armymen on duty, who were on the move when riots took place, were killed. The Army compensated families with retirement benefits. As per the Commission report, 45 were from Punjab, two each from Delhi and Haryana and one from Jammu and Kashmir..
Forwarded by forum member Tejwant Singh Malik
