Under attack from the Shiromani Akali Dal over Congress’ role in 1984 anti- Sikh riots, Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Monday said some party leaders could have been involved in the riots individually but the Congress was not connected with the 1984 riots.
Reacting strongly to SAD leader Bikram Singh Majithia reference to Congress president Rahul Gandhi’s recent denial of his party’s role in the 1984 riots, the CM Singh said he had personally visited individual camps immediately after the incident and met people there.
People in the camps had named some individual Congress leaders, namely HKL Bhagat, Sajjan Kumar, Arjan Das and Dharamdas Shastri, which he had subsequently revealed to the public, said Amarinder during the on-going session of the Assembly.
“I have been naming these people for the past almost 34 years,” said Amarinder, adding that he had named the people who were mentioned to him, and not out of any personal knowledge.
On his visit to the affected areas and the camps in the aftermath of the riots, the CM said the situation had been bad, and bodies of victims could be seen rotting on the roads.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Brahm Mohindra wanted the names of the people who were not present in the House during the discussion to be expunged. Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader HS Phoolka raised objections.
The CM said there was no need to expunge the names as these members had been in public debate for the past 34 years, and had already been exposed in the public eye.
When SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal referred to video sting in which an accused party leader Jagdish Tytler reportedly claimed to have accompanied then former Prime Minister and Congress leader Rajiv Gandhi during the riots, the CM said it was not true as Gandhi was in West Bengal when his mother was assassinated and the incident was followed by riots.
When Sukhbir asked why were the riot accused Congress leaders like Tytler were given party tickets, Amarinder said they are facing cases in the court and everyone is innocent till proved guilty.
The CM told media persons later that Majithia was just about eight years old at the time of the riots and was probably in a pram. What does he know about the issue, asked Amarinder, warning the Akalis against playing with the sentiments of the Sikhs on the sensitive matter.