Raising Sensitive Issue: 1984 Anti Sikh Riots

AMARINDER SINGH'S COMMENTS NOT WELCOME

Raising Sensitive Issue: 1984 Anti Sikh Riots

The case of Anti Sikh Riots in 1984 (happened in Delhi) subsequent to killing of Indira Gandhi by her bodyguards is still in the court (both in India as well as US). The comments by contestants in the present elections are uncalled for.

New Delhi: The incident of 1984 riots conducted in Delhi (mainly targeting Sikhs) subsequent to killing of the then PM Smt. Indira Gandhi by her bodyguards is very unfortunate and a black spot on the secular behavior of India as the riots were conducted targeting a specific section of society.

In the riots 1000’s of innocent people pertaining to one section have been brutally murdered. The incidents took place in many parts of the country with Delhi being the main area where more than 5000 people have been brutally murdered. The Delhi police also was commented as to have not acted as required by the need of the hour.

It was believed that many senior congress leaders were involved – directly and indirectly – in those riots. There was large scale hue and cry from the affected community criticizing the congress leaders and also the then union government under Rajiv Gandhi working as the Prime Minister. Involvement of senior congress leaders like Jagdish Tytler, Sajjan Kumar and HKL Bhagat was largely mentioned.

As usual, many commissions were appointed by the government of India to look into the allegations against the involvement of congress leaders in the riots.

During 2011, a case was filed in New York by Sikh for Justice (SFJ) a voluntary organization. The case is still going on. One of the charges in the case mentions Sonia’s involvement in hiding/giving shelter to some of the congress leaders alleged involved in the riots.

The present MP (congress contestant) Capt. Amarinder Singh tried to give a clean chit to some of the tainted congress leaders in the riots case. Large scale criticism arose on Captain’s comments within no time of his comments.

Capt. Amarinder singh (former CM of Punjab) is contesting against Arun Jaitley of BJP from Amritsar Lok Sabha in the state. Capt. Amarinder is very well aware of the sensitive nature of the issue and his comments giving clean chit to congress leaders is definitely raking the old wound in the minds of Sikhs. Capt. Singh is free to discuss his party’s election manifesto and seek votes but his comments on this sensitive issue are not appreciated.