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Disappointed at the clean chit given to Congress leaders in the government's action taken report on Nanavati commission report, an association working for the 1984 riot victims demanded the resignation of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on moral grounds on Monday.
"There is no hope of justice left and we have lost all faith in the government. We were denied justice 21 years back and no justice has been given now... prime minister should immediately resign on moral grounds," All India Riot Victims Relief Committee President Kuldeep Singh Bhogal said.
The Sikh Forum, which has been working for the rehabilitation of riot victims, said, "if the Commission report had used the phrase "very probably" for Jagdish Tytler's involvement, the government could have atleast ordered an enquiry into it."
"But then for this, Tytler would have to resign... the Congress has tried to shield its leaders through the ATR," said Wg Cdr R S Chatwal of the Sikh Forum.
Nanavati report tabled in Parliament
"The report is highly disappointing. After over 20 years of fight, we realised that this country is not governed by the rule of law," said Advocate H S Phulka, who represented the victims before the Nanavati commission.
"The ATR has again shown that Congress is anti-Sikh. You can easily kill 3,000 people of a community and get away with it," Akali Dal (Badal) member of Parliament Sukhbir Badal said, adding, "We have asked for a debate in Parliament tomorrow. On Aug 13-14, we are having a general body meeting of the Akali Dal where further course of action would be finalised."
Meanwhile, the All India Sikh Conference said it would take out a protest march to Parliament on Tuesday and copies of the action taken report would be burnt.
"The commission report has been of no use. The ATR has totally gone against it and now there is no other quarter left for justice," said G S Babbar, President of the Conference.
"It is strange that for the killing of 3,000 people, not a single person has been held guilty. The report has given a boost to the morale of rioters... anyone can commit a crime and can easily get away," said Akali Dal (Panthak) President Manjit Singh. "We are trying to bring all the Sikh groups under single umbrella for launching the protest on a big scale," he said.
Pro-Congress Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee President Paramjit Singh Sarna said, "the government should reconsider its stand. If it fails to deliver justice, it would amount to murder of democracy."
Meanwhile, the Shiromani Gurudwara Prabandhak Commitee termed the Nanavati report as "false and far from facts" and accused the government of "deliberately" delaying its tabling to "favour" the guilty.
"This report is a mere eyewash to protect Congress leaders in view of the forthcoming elections. It's an incomplete report and the Sikh community rejects it," SGPC Chief Bibi Jagir Kaur told reporters in Chandigarh, on the sidelines of religious body's 'Dharam Prachar Committee' meeting.
"Only the Akali Dal will decide whether it will press for setting up a new commission to look into 1984 anti-sikh riots," she said when asked whether SGPC ascribes for constituting a fresh commission to probe the riots.