‘Congress shedding crocodile tears over Pitroda’s remark’

HOSHIARPUR: Responding to controversy over Indian Overseas Congress (IOC) chief Sam Pitroda’s remarks on the ’84 riots, Union railway minister Piyush Goyal on Sunday said the Congress had added insult to injury by being unapologetic about the anti-Sikh riots.

Ahead of All India Congress Committee (AICC) president Rahul Gandhi’s visit to the constituency on Monday, Goyal said he was ashamed to repeat Pitroda’s comments on the subject.

Taking a dig at Punjab chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh, who had condemned Pitroda’s remarks, the railway minister said, “Some Congress leaders are shedding crocodile tears over the matter.”

Comparing former PM Manmohan Singh with Narendra Modi, he said, “Congress always surrendered before terrorism. When the Mumbai terror attack took place, the then PM did not have the courage to strike back. However, Modi gave a befitting reply to our enemies. Since Punjab shares boundaries with Pakistan, people here know the importance of a strong government in the Centre.”

“The people of Punjab know that peace is a must for development and peace can only be maintained if there is a strong government to control terrorism,” said Goyal, claiming that SAD-BJP will win all 13 seats in the state.

He claimed that Modi government had invested five-times more on railway than the previous government.

“The UPA government invested ₹1,100 crore from 2009 to 2014, while ₹3,600 were spent during NDA’s term.”

The minister also addressed a gathering of industrialists and traders.

Some of the traders, raised a demand for better railway connectivity in the district and incentives for tax payers.