SAD rakes 1984 against Kamal Nath’s appointment as MP CM

JOINING ISSUES Says Gandhis rewarding the Cong leader; AAP asks CM to clarify stand on matter

Whenever the Gandhi family comes to power, it protects the perpetrators of 1984 riots. Now they are rewarding Kamal Nath as Madhya Pradesh CM. MANJINDER SINGH SIRSA, Shiromani Akali Dal leader There’s ample proof against Nath and the wheel of justice is yet to turn against him. Now, it is up to Rahul to decide if he wants a man involved in anti-Sikh riots as CM. HS PHOOLKA , AAP MLA and lawyer for 1984 riot victims Nath’s name had figured prominently among those leading the groups that attacked Sikhs, but no action was taken against him during the rule of UPA or NDA. HARPAL SINGH CHEEMA, leader of opposition in Punjab assembly

CHANDIGARH: With the Congress leadership finalising Kamal Nath’s name for the post of chief minister of Madhya Pradesh, the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) on Thursday accused the Gandhi family of “protecting the perpetrators” of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots.

The Akali Dal alleges that Nath had a hand in the anti-Sikh riots that broke out in the national capital following the assassination of Indira Gandhi in 1984. “Whenever the Gandhi family comes to power, it protects the perpetrators of the 1984 riots. Now, Rahul Gandhi and the Gandhi family are rewarding Kamal Nath as chief minister of Madhya Pradesh...,” Akali Dal leader Manjinder Singh Sirsa told reporters.

“Rahul Gandhi wants to give a message that those involved in the killings of Sikhs in 1984 now need not worry... that they are behind them and will reward them instead,” he added.

“He (Kamal Nath) himself had agreed before the J Ranganath Misra and J Nanawati commissions set up in 1985 that on November 1, 1984, he was very much present on the premises of Gurdwara Rakab Ganj Sahib when two Sikhs were burnt to death,” said Sirsa.

Sirsa said Kamal Nath’s presence at the gurdwara was also confirmed by two senior government officers. He said the then reporter of an English daily, Sanjay Suri, had reportedly seen Kamal Nath leading a mob. A section of the Sikh community had raised objections when Nath was appointed general secretary in-charge of Punjab and Haryana. While Nath continued to hold the charge for Haryana affairs, he was replaced in Punjab.

Meanwhile, Delhi BJP spokesperson Tajinder Singh Bagga claimed the Congress is aware of Nath’s involvement in the riots and that was why he was “removed” as the Punjab in-charge of the Congress before assembly elections in that state in 2017. He said Punjab chief minister Amarinder Singh should register his protest against the party’s decision to make Nath the CM and should resign if Rahul Gandhi does not agree to his demand.

President of 1984 Sikh Qatl-aaam Peerat Welfare Society Surjit Singh said, “Riot victims have not got justice and the Congress is rewarding people who allegedly led the mobs. The party should not elevate Kamal Nath as the Madhya Pradesh CM as it will be a big disappointment for the Sikh community.”

Punjab Congress chief Sunil Jakhar said he supports Kamal Nath’s candidature as the CM because there’s no FIR against him and none of the inquiry commissions on riots have indicted him. “What Akalis are alleging is political thing,” added Jakhar.

‘IT’S LIKE RUBBING SALT ON WOUNDS ’

Leader of opposition in the Punjab assembly Harpal Singh Cheema on Thursday asked chief minister Capt Amarinder to clarify his stand on Congress leader Kamal Nath’s likely elevation as Madhya Pradesh CM.

In a statement, Cheema termed the development as “rubbing salt on wounds of Sikh victims”. “After the 1984 genocide, Kamal Nath’s name had figured prominently among those leading the groups that attacked Sikhs, but no action was taken against him during the rule of the Congress or the NDA,” he said.

Cheema asked the two leaders to clarify his stand. He also appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to immediately get the allegations against the Congress leader probed in a timebound manner.

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) rebel leader Sukhpal Singh Khaira said Amarinder, who does not blink when he maligns Sikh politicians of Canada on the directions of his bosses in Delhi, should show some spine and speak up on this issue. “Will he dare to ask Rahul Gandhi not to name Kamal Nath as MP CM?” he said.

WHEEL OF JUSTICE YET TO TURN: PHOOLKA

Aam Aadmi Party leader and Supreme Court lawyer HS Phoolka on Thursday claimed there was “strong” evidence of Congress leader Kamal Nath’s involvement in the 1984 antiSikh riots and said the wheel of justice was yet to turn against him.

“There’s ample amount of evidence against Kamal Nath and the wheel of justice is yet to turn against him. Now, it is up to (Congress president) Rahul Gandhi to decide whether he wants a man who was involved in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots as the chief minister of Madhya Pradesh,” Phoolka said.