CM Amarinder Names Congress Members ‘Involved’ in 1984 Riots

The Punjab CM asserted that individuals were involved in the 1984 riots, and not the Congress party.

Punjab CM Amarinder Singh. 

(Photo: IANS)

The Punjab Assembly session was marked by chaos over the 1984 anti-Sikh riots on Monday, 27 August, with Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh reportedly naming five Congress members allegedly involved in the riots, while asserting that the Congress as a party was not involved in the pogrom.

This comes in the context of the controversy over Congress President Rahul Gandhi's recent remarks denying Congress' involvement in the riots, while calling it a tragedy.

Singh said Congress leaders HKL Bhagat, Sajjan Kumar, Arjun Das and Dharam Dass Shastri were involved in the riots.

Later, addressing a press conference, Singh reiterated his comments.

The incident (1984 riots) took place when Indiraji was killed. At that time, Rajiv Gandhi was at an airport in Bengal. There was no Congress involvement other than some people. I have named a few people – Sajjan Kumar, Dharam Dass Shastri , Arjun Das and two more people. 

Punjab CM Amarinder Singh, as quoted by ANI

He reportedly said the names were told to him by victims of the 1984 riots.

“They gave me names of 3-5 persons who were involved in the riots. Individuals were involved, not the party,” he was quoted as telling the Punjab Assembly.

The Punjab CM slammed the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), saying that the party's president Sukhbir Singh Badal was "in California in a University" when the riots happened, while Bikram Singh Majithia was "only eight years old".

On Sunday too, the Punjab CM hit out at the 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.

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”, the CM added.

‘Amarinder Didn’t Take Tytler’s Name as he Has a Soft Corner For Him’: Badal

Responding to Singh taking the names of five people in the Assembly as being involved in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, SAD President Sukhbir Singh Badal said the Punjab CM did not take the name of Congress' Jagdish Tytler since he has a "soft corner" for him.

He (Amarinder Singh) should write to the Supreme Court that he is the biggest/main witness in the case... He (Amarinder Singh) took five names, but he has a soft corner for Tytler (Jagdish Tytler). So he didn’t take his name.

SAD President Sukhbir Singh Badal, as quoted by ANI