Chief Minister of Delhi Rekha Gupta (right) handed over appointment letters to the families of 1984 anti-Sikh riot victims, at Delhi Secretariat in New Delhi on December 12, 2025. Delhi Government Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa (left) is also seen.
| Photo Credit: Shiv Kumar Pushpakar
New Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Friday (December 12, 2025) handed over appointment letters to 36 family members of those affected by the 1984 anti-Sikh riots.
Also Read:40 years on, survivors recall horror of anti-Sikh riots
During the event, Ms. Gupta said, while no government assistance can erase the trauma of the victims, her administration remains committed to supporting them with dignity and justice. Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa was also present at the event.
Addressing the gathering, Ms. Gupta recounted her own childhood memories of the violence. “I was around 10 years old when the 1984 riots happened. Everyone was scared. People were hiding their identity. We have all seen those horrific scenes,” she said.
Ms. Gupta said those scenes could never be forgotten. “No support can fully ease the pain of those days, but the government must stand with the victims,” she added.
Ms. Gupta credited the Central Government for progress in legal proceedings related to the riots. “It was only after the Modi Government set up the Special Investigation Team (SIT) that, cases reopened and those responsible began to be sent to jail,” she said.
Ms. Gupta said she considers herself only a medium in helping victims receive what they are owed. “We only want to reduce the pain that New Delhi has carried for so long. We want to work sincerely for these families,” she added.
Mr. Sirsa thanked the Chief Minister for prioritising long-pending rehabilitation measures, saying families had carried the pain of 1984 riots for decades, and that the step would offer some support and recognition.
Published – December 12, 2025 04:00 pm IST
