A one-day convention titled 'Zakhm 84 De' was held in Chandigarh on 4 November, bringing together victims and surviving kin of the 1984 anti-Sikh violence. Organised by the Bharatiya Janata Party, the gathering was marked by an intensely solemn and emotional atmosphere. Proceedings commenced with a collective Ardas seeking peace for the thousands of innocent souls who perished in the carnage, alongside prayers for the perseverance of those still fighting for accountability.
Archival Photographic Exhibition Depicts November 1984 Tragedies
Prior to the formal panel discussions, organizers inaugurated a dedicated historical photo exhibition capturing the grim reality of the November 1984 violence. The showcase was formally unveiled by Patna Sahib Member of Parliament and senior advocate Ravi Shankar Prasad, with Punjab BJP President Kewal Singh Dhillon and state in-charge Satish Poonia in attendance.
The monochrome photographs documented traumatic scenes across the national capital, including the razed and burning residential quarters of Trilokpuri, gutted commercial establishments in Connaught Place, displaced families clinging to remnants of their belongings, and harrowing moments where Sikh passengers were forcibly pulled from public transport buses. The visual evidence served as an evocative reminder of the human devastation witnessed during that period.
Ravi Shankar Prasad Questioned Congress Leadership and Past Stances
Addressing the inaugural assembly alongside victim families, former Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad expressed deep sorrow over the enduring pain of the community. He noted that Punjab’s soul continues to bear two profound scars, naming the wounds of 1984 and the scourge of chitta, and asserted that genuine healing is unattainable without rigorous and impartial legal justice. Prasad sharply criticized Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over the timing of his party's political outreach within Punjab.
Prasad pointed out that the Congress had mounted a rally in Delhi on 1 November and followed it immediately with political activities in Punjab, describing such steps as rubbing salt into unhealed wounds. He recalled Rajiv Gandhi's contentious public remarks on 19 November 1984, where he had stated that the earth shakes when a big tree falls, calling it an unacceptable rationalization for the systematic killing of thousands of citizens.
The senior lawyer recalled that during his tenure as Union Minister of Information and Broadcasting under the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government, he took active steps to restore video documentation of Rajiv Gandhi's statement into public records after it had previously vanished from official archives. Prasad then challenged Rahul Gandhi to make his stance on his father's remarks explicit, questioning why the family had never tendered an unreserved, honest apology to the nation.
Four Decades of Delayed Justice and Recent Legal Milestones
Accusing the Congress of systematically burying accountability over a four-decade span, Prasad observed that past administrations followed an approach designed to delay, deflect, and disrupt genuine investigations. He remarked that multiple commissions were established under various regimes without demonstrating the decisive political will required to penalize culprits, highlighting that even the decade-long tenure of Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh failed to deliver meaningful convictions.
Prasad alleged that previous rulers showed little concern for the loss of 3,500 innocent lives, prioritizing instead the protection of three or four influential political figures. He credited the Narendra Modi administration with instituting a dedicated Special Investigation Team (SIT) and acting on the findings of the Justice Dhingra recommendations. These legal measures, he pointed out, ultimately secured convictions and life imprisonment for high-profile figures such as Sajjan Kumar. Prasad also commended the steadfast legal battle waged by senior advocate H.S. Phoolka in championing the victims' cause in court.
Kewal Singh Dhillon and R.P. Singh Reaffirm Long-Term Support
Sharing his thoughts at the conclave, Punjab BJP President Kewal Singh Dhillon paid homage to the families present, noting that Rajiv Gandhi's words from 1984 continue to distress the collective consciousness even after 42 years. Dhillon remarked that any community that chooses to forget its history risks compromising its own future, underscoring that the tragedies of 1984 will neither be forgotten nor permitted to fade from memory.
Taking aim at Rahul Gandhi's rallies in Sangrur centered around justice, Dhillon remarked that the public of Punjab remains conscious that genuine redress cannot be expected from those responsible for inflicting the grief. He maintained that the party would not rest until every remaining perpetrator is brought before the court of law.
Moderating the session, BJP National Spokesperson R.P. Singh reiterated the organization's enduring commitment to standing beside the families. He observed that following decades of grueling legal battles, substantial headway has finally been made toward accountability, pledging continuous support until comprehensive justice is secured for every affected household.
