Sukhbir slams Rahul over remarks on 1984 riots

August 25, 2018 20:03

Shiromani Akali Dal today hit out at Congress president Rahul Gandhi over his remarks on 1984 anti-Sikh riots, saying by disagreeing with the view that his party was involved in the "genocide", he had "rubbed salt into the wounds" of the Sikh community.

However, the Congress's Punjab unit defended Gandhi's comments and lambasted the Akalis, alleging they were "deliberately distorting" his remarks to divert public attention after being "exposed" of their role in Bargari sacrilege and subsequent killing of innocent Sikhs protesting the sacrilege in Kotkapura.

Describing the 1984 anti-Sikh riots a "very painful tragedy", Gandhi, who is on a two-day visit to the UK, said, "I have no confusion in my mind about that. 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."

Lashing out at the Congress president, SAD chief Sukhbir Singh Badal alleged that Gandhi was trying to protect those Congress leaders who were involved in the "genocide".

"Rahul Gandhi has rubbed salt into the wounds of Sikh 'quom' (community) by saying that Congress was not involved in 1984 anti Sikh riots," Badal told reporters here today, adding, "It shows the thinking of Gandhi towards Sikh community."

"I want to ask Rahul (Gandhi) if Congress leaders were not involved in the anti-Sikh riots then why it withdrew tickets given to party leaders HKL Bhagat, Jagdish Tytler and Sajjan Kumar. Why was Jagdish Tytler removed from the ministry in the Manmohan Singh-led government," he asked.

Meanwhile, Congress leaders and Punjab ministers defended party president Rahul Gandhi over the statement he made in London.

-- PTI

« Back to LIVE

TOP STORIES

IPL PIX: KKR down SunRisers Hyderabad to storm into final

IMAGES from the IPL 2024 Qualifier 1 played between SunRisers Hyderabad and Kolkata Knight Riders in Ahmedabad, on Tuesday.

Buttler, Curran back ECB for pulling players out of IPL

England players returned home even before the completion of the IPL's league stage on Sunday.

Awaiting Pak handler's instructions, 4 IS men tell cops

All they have said so far is that their handler was going to inform them about the exact location and time of the target after they collected the weapons," he said.

Sharjah Chess: Aravindh Chithambaram slips after loss

Another Indian, Arjun Erigaisi could not crack the solid defences of Parham Maghsoodloo of Iran and had to settle for a draw.

Excise case: Jolt to Sisodia as HC rejects bail pleas in ED, CBI cases

The high court said he was a very powerful and influential person within the power corridors of the Delhi government as he had the responsibility of 18 portfolios in the city dispensation.