NEW DELHI: In a bid to mollify victims of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda July 2 announced that the government will waive loans up to Rs 50,000 given to them and that the Rajiy Longowal accord would be implemented by the United Front Government. Addressing a Sikh sammelan here, the Prime Minister also indicated his government’s willingness to release TADA delaines by saying that he had instructed the Union Home Secretary to review the cases and report it to the government within three months.
Gowda said interest accrued on loans up to Rs 50,000 to the riot victims would also be waived and added that he had asked the Finance Ministry to give him detailed information on the fiscal assistance to the Sikh victims. The Prime Minister said that he would visit Punjab again in September to assuage the feelings of young militants and try to solve their problems “not through the gun but through peaceful dialogue. “Gowda said his government’s decision to waive loans up to Rs 50,000 and interest thereon would benefit a major chunk of the riot victims. “The necessary order in this regard will be issued within a week,” he said.
The Prime Minister said his government would review and enlarge the 15point program for welfare of minorities for its effective implementation and take stringent measures to protect the places of worship, Gowda said his government would strive to maintain sanctity of human rights and review penal laws to make them effective for protection of such rights.
Referring to his recent visit to the Golden Temple, he said the people had demanded release of youths Serving long jail terms and their transfer to jails in Punjab pending their release. A demand was also made for the release of TADA de trainees and speedy trial of those involved in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, he said.
Referring to the situation in Punjab, Jammu and Kashmir and Assam, Gowda said he was confident ‘that the United Front Government would be able to usher in an era of peace. The Prime Minister paid eloquent tributes to the Sikh community for its glorious sacrifices for national cause and also for making the country self-sufficient in food grains, He said he wanted to give the community the right representative in the Union Council of Ministers from the beginning and therefore, inducted B.S. Ramoowalia as the Welfare Minister.
Article extracted from this publication >> July 3, 1996
