BJP’s ‘Zakhm 84 De’ Conclave in Chandigarh on Nov 4: Ravi Shankar Prasad, Nayab Saini to Attend

Ludhiana. The BJP will hold a conclave titled ‘Zakhm 84 De’ in Chandigarh on November 4, bringing together survivors, legal representatives of victims and political figures to discuss the 1984 anti-Sikh massacre, the decades-long fight for justice and the rehabilitation of affected families.

Former Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad will deliver the keynote address at the inaugural session, while Haryana CM Nayab Singh Saini will speak at the concluding session on rehabilitation efforts undertaken by BJP-led governments. The programme will feature six sessions, including an inaugural session, four thematic discussions and a concluding session, alongside an exhibition documenting the massacre through photographs and accounts of incidents.

Announcing the event at a press conference in Ludhiana, Kewal Singh Dhillon said the conclave was intended to bring the experiences of victims and their families before younger generations and examine the circumstances surrounding the massacre and the subsequent struggle for justice.

The discussions will cover how the violence unfolded, whether it was part of a larger conspiracy, alleged failures in the delivery of justice, action against those accused of involvement and the rehabilitation of families who lost relatives and livelihoods.

Prasad, who represented victims in proceedings involving the Sajjan Kumar case before the High Court and the Supreme Court, will address the inaugural session.

The first thematic session, titled ‘When and How Did the Genocide Take Place?’, will feature survivors recounting their experiences of the violence. Their accounts are expected to form a central part of the discussion on the events of 1984 and their consequences for affected families.

The second session, ‘Was the Genocide a Conspiracy?’, will examine allegations that the anti-Sikh violence was part of a wider conspiracy. Participants will include senior Supreme Court advocate H.S. Phoolka, who pursued legal cases on behalf of victims for decades; Tarlochan Singh, former chairman of the National Commission for Minorities; and R.P. Singh, BJP national spokesperson.

The third session, ‘Murder of Justice’, will focus on allegations of delayed justice, destruction of evidence and political patronage for the accused. These issues have remained central to the long-running legal and political debate over accountability for the 1984 violence.

The fourth session, ‘Punishing the Guilty: BJP’s Efforts’, will examine the BJP’s stated role in supporting victims and pursuing accountability for those held responsible for the massacre.

The concluding session will focus on the rehabilitation of affected families and the measures taken to help them rebuild their lives. Saini will attend the session and outline initiatives undertaken by BJP-led governments for the victims and their families.

Dhillon said the event would seek to place the victims’ suffering, their pursuit of justice and the question of accountability before a wider audience. He also said the exhibition would provide younger visitors with a visual record of the tragedy.

The 1984 anti-Sikh massacre followed the assassination of then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi on October 31, 1984, by two of her Sikh bodyguards. Anti-Sikh violence broke out in several parts of the country, with Delhi among the worst-affected areas. The violence left thousands dead, while survivors and families spent decades seeking criminal prosecutions, compensation and rehabilitation.

The Chandigarh conclave comes as the events of 1984 continue to shape public debate over communal violence, political accountability and the pursuit of justice for victims.