’84 Sikh riots: PM, Patil discuss evidence relook

Meanwhile, a Home Ministry panel that examined the relief package for victims has recommended that compensation be increased by at least 25-50 times. It’s learnt that the panel has suggested that compensation already received from various state governments be taken as the base figure. Over 6,400 people are believed to have been affected by the riots. The panel’s recommendation will be sent to the Cabinet for approval.

The Home Ministry had set up two in-house panels to study the issue after the PM’s assurance to Parliament. Singh, sources said, discussed with Patil and other officials the issue of which agency to hand over investigations.

Official sources pointed out difficulties are bound to crop up since the cases were more than 21 years old. ‘‘Witnesses may have died or left. Police officials have retired. Even memory may not be that vivid anymore in terms of remembering minute details,’’ they said.

The PM, however, is not in favour of a high-profile inquiry as there was a danger of reopening old wounds, the sources said. ‘‘But he said that perception and sentiments had to be respected,’’ they added.

Later, Minister of State for Home Sri Prakash Jaiswal said reports of the two Home Ministry panels—looking into compensation and employment to the victims—will be submitted to Patil. He said disbursement of compensation would take place once the reports were approved by the Cabinet.

No probe into Mitrokhin

NEW DELHI: There will be no probe into the alleged KGB funding of Indian polity as the Russian spy Mitrokhin ‘‘revealed’’ in his recently released book, according to official sources. ‘‘Merely because someone has made an allegation, the government cannot order an inquiry. It would give unnecessary credence to the charges,’’ the sources said. —ENS