Congress covered up, buried the cases in 1984 anti-sikh riots: Jaitley
New Delhi: Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Wednesday claimed the two NDA governments led by Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Narendra Modi made significant efforts to investigate the 1984 anti-sikh riots resulting in conviction and sentencing in two cases. The senior BJP leader also accused the Congress of covering up the cases, saying it tried to show as though, “the 1984 genocide had not happened.”
“The two NDA governments of which the Akali Dal has been an important constituent made significant efforts to investigate the cases where evidence was still available,” Jaitley said in a blog. He said the success has been achieved in one case but the Indian society, particularly the Sikh community, wants a closure of the horrible memories of 1984.
“We owe to the victims that the other cases suggested by the SIT for investigation and prosecution be vigorously pursued. The same is being done. Such convictions in those residual cases will be a small consolation,” he said. He said that Vajpayee-led government appointed the Justice G.T. Nanavati Commission of Inquiry which prepared an “excellent report” giving details, police-station wise, where the accused were prima facie guilty of crimes and the status of each case.
“The case in which Delhi Court on Tuesday convicted two people, sentencing one to death was prosecuted after decades by this SIT,” he said.