EC asks MHA to explain fresh relief for victims

A day after the government decided to award a fresh compensation of Rs 5 lakh to the victims of 1984 anti-Sikh riots, the Election Commission of India on Friday sought an explanation from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on the matter, seeking to know how such a decision could be taken during the imposition of the Model Code of Conduct in Delhi in wake of the upcoming byelections in three seats.

Asking the MHA to respond by November 3, the EC, sources said, has pointed out that the Model Code was already in force in Delhi which will go to polls on November 25 on the assembly seats of Mehrauli, Tuglakabad and Krishna Nagar.

On October 30, the government decided to give Rs 5 lakh each to the next of kin of 3,325 victims of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots that occurred in the aftermath of the assassination of the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. This fresh compensation, amounting to Rs 166 crore, would be over and above the compensations already been given to the victims.