Anti-Sikh riots was biggest lynching incident: Rajnath

Countering the opposition attack on the BJP-led government over instances of mob lynching, Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday said the 1984 anti-Sikh riot was “biggest” such incident.

Speaking on the lynching incidents, one of the issues cited by the opposition to attack the government, Singh said the Centre will provide whatever assistance required but the state governments should take stringent steps to curb such incidents.

“The biggest incident of the mob-lynching happened during 1984,” Singh said, referring to the anti-Sikh riot that took place in the aftermath of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi's assasination in October 1984.

The minister said the government has formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) and assured that justice would be given to the Sikh community.

Condemning these rumour mongering incidents, the minister, in his speech during the debate on the no-confidence vote in Lok Sabha, said such incidents should not happen.

Rajnath Singh said law and order was a state subject, but the Centre would provide whatever assistance required, while calling on state governments to take stringent steps to curb lynchings.

“I had spoken over the issue yesterday (Thursday) too. I had asked to take stern action against mob lynching incidents. I had also assured that the Central government would provide all support to stop such incidents,” he said.

Law and order was a state subject, but the Centre would provide whatever assistance required, while calling on state govts to take stringent steps to curb lynchings