Sukhbir slams Rahul for denying Cong role in 1984 riots
: Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal, on Saturday, lashed out at Congress president Rahul Gandhi for his statement that he (Rahul) disagreed with the view that the Congress was ‘involved’ in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots in the country.
Addressing a press conference, Sukhbir added, “Now, it is paramount for Rahul Gandhi to explain what hold the perpetrators of the 1984 Sikh massacre have over him. Rahul’s stand contradicts former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who had apologised for the killing of innocent Sikhs in 1984. Even the then Congress party president, Sonia Gandhi, had expressed regret.”
“You should tell the country why these apologies were offered if the Congress was not a ‘Bhagidaar’ (participant) in the worstever mass lynchings,” Sukhbir added. Sukhbir also reminded Rahul that he had, in an interview on March 16, 2014, stated that he shared the sentiments of both Dr Manmohan Singh and Sonia Gandhi on this issue.
“Why this U-turn now? Are you sending across a message of assurance to the 1984 lynching perpetrators Jagdish Tytler and Sajjan Kumar before they are jailed in this case that the Congress party will continue to support them...and that they should not spill the beans about the role of the Gandhi family in the 1984 mass killings?” he asked.
‘PLOY TO DEFLECT ATTENTION FROM RANJIT PANEL REPORT’ Chandigarh
Congress ministers and MLAs on Saturday said the Akalis were deliberately distorting remarks made by Congress president Rahul Gandhi in London on 1984 anti-Sikh riots. The leaders said the SAD was trying to divert public attention after being exposed for their role in Bargari sacrilege and subsequent police firing at Sikh protesters in the Justice Ranjit Singh Commission report.
Ministers Tript Rajinder Singh Bajwa, Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, Sukhbinder Singh Sarkaria and MLA Kuljit Nagra said Rahul had clearly and unequivocally condemned the riots.
“Normally, Badals are used to raking up the riots issue during elections. However, this time their survival is at stake as the Ranjit panel report will script their political obituary,” they added.