He Was In School When 1984 Riots Happened: Amarinder Backs Rahul

Rahul Gandhi had come under criticism for saying he did not agree that Congress was involved in the anti-Sikh riots.

Congress president Rahul Gandhi in London. 

(Photo Courtesy: Twitter/@INCIndia)

Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Sunday hit out at the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) for attacking Rahul Gandhi on the issue of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, saying the Congress, as a party, was never involved in the carnage.

Rahul Gandhi was in school when Operation Bluestar – and later the riots – took place, Singh said. To hold him responsible for an act of which he was not even aware when it happened was “completely ridiculous”, he added.

He added that “whosoever was involved” in the senseless killings in 1984 should be "hanged".

Earlier, on 24 August, describing the 1984 riots as a "very painful tragedy", Gandhi, who was on a two-day visit to the UK, had denied Congress’ involvement, causing controversy.

It was a tragedy... it was a painful experience. You say that the Congress party was involved in that, I don’t agree with that. Certainly there was violence, certainly there was tragedy.

Rahul Gandhi

“I think any violence done against anybody is wrong. There are legal processes ongoing in India but as far as I’m concerned, anything done that was wrong during that period should be punished and I would support that 100 percent,” the Congress President had added.

Amarinder Takes on Akalis

The Congress, as a party, was never involved in the riots that continue to haunt the Sikh community.

Amarinder Singh

Singh said that if any individual was involved, he or she would be dealt with as per the law.

"To blame the entire party for the acts of a few was preposterous and typical of the political immaturity of Sukhbir," the chief minister said.

Singh then said, "Gandhi's latest comments need to be seen in context with his earlier statements on the 1984 riots, wherein he himself had named some Congressmen. It is evident that the Akalis obviously did not have either the maturity or the sensitivity to understand or appreciate the sentiment behind the regrets expressed by Dr Manmohan Singh and Sonia Gandhi on the issue. Their statements were never an admission of guilt or Congress party's involvement in the riots.”

Rahul’s Comment Rubbed Salt Into Wounds of Sikhs: SAD

Condemning Gandhi’s remarks on 1984 riots, the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) said Gandhi had "rubbed salt into the wounds" of the Sikh community.

"Rahul Gandhi has rubbed salt into the wounds of the Sikh quom (community) by saying that the Congress was not involved in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots. It shows the thinking of Gandhi towards Sikh community," SAD chief Sukhbir Singh Badal had said.

Badal further alleged that Gandhi was trying to protect Congress leaders who were involved in the "genocide".

"I want to ask Rahul that if Congress leaders were not involved in anti-Sikh riots, then why did the party withdraw tickets given to Congress leaders HKL Bhagat, Jagdish Tytler and Sajjan Kumar? Why was Tytler removed from the ministry in the Manmohan Singh-led government?" Badal asked.

(With inputs from PTI.)