New Delhi: The Narendra Modi government has decided to give Rs 5 lakh as compensation to the families of each victim of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots. The move comes at a time when the capital is headed for Assembly elections in the coming months. 

About 4,000 families are likely to benefit from the measure will cost the exchequer Rs 166 million '. 

The capital is now under the rule of President and Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung is exploring the possibility of forming a government to invite the BJP, which finished as the single largest survey of the state Assembly last game. 

Official sources said the decision to `5 lakh compensation to the families of victims of anti-Sikh riots was taken five days ago. The riots broke out after the assassination of the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi by her Sikh bodyguards on October 31, 1984. 
Friday is the 30th anniversary of the death of Indira Gandhi. 

"Compensation will be paid as soon as possible, hopefully in the next few weeks," an official said. 

Sources said the 3,325 victims, 2,733 were killed in Delhi alone while the rest of the victims were killed in Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and other states.