Rahul Gandhi's 1984 riots remarks sparks political furore

NEW DELHI: Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi's remarks on the 1984 riots have sparked off an unprecedented political furore, with a united opposition stepping up attack against Congress, demanding a court monitored fast track probe.

Sikh groups on Thursday protested outside the Congress office in Delhi, stating that a mere apology on the 1984 riots will not suffice. "We demand that Rahul Gandhi should name the people involved in the riots. Those people need to be punished," the protestors said. BJP joined the foray, hitting out at Congress and saying that the 1984 riots were orchestrated by Congress.

Adding to the controversy, Former President Giani Zail Singh's Press Secretary Tarlochan Singh alleged that the 1984 Sikh riots were 'orchestrated and sponsored'. "Neither Rajiv Gandhi nor Home Minister or anyone in goverment took the President's calls when the riots took place," he alleged.

"A plan was made to teach the Sikhs a lesson before Rajiv Gandhi arrived in Delhi. Rajiv Gandhi did not answer calls when riots took place, did not try to stop the riots," Tarlochan Singh accused. ..

On Wednesday, Delhi Government decided on a probe by a Special Investigation Team into the 1984 anti- Sikh riots, two days after Rahul Gandhi had said some of the partymen were probably involved in the violence but were punished.

The politically sensitive decision to form the SIT to investigate the riots which left around 3000 Sikhs dead following the assassination of the then prime minister Indira Gandhi on October 31, 1984 may create trouble in the relationship between AAP and Congre ..

"Government is going to form a SIT to probe the 1984 riots. The modalities of the probe will be discussed at a cabinet meeting on Friday. Lt Governor Najeeb Jung has in-principle agreed to the proposal to appoint the SIT," PWD Minister Manish Sisodia told reporters.

Earlier in the day, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal discussed the issue with Jung.

Commenting on the SIT probe, BJP leader Hardeep Singh Puri said, "The SIT probe has to be court monitored and time bound." SAD MP Nar ..

On its part, Congress said that it will support the SIT probe. "If an SIT is able to get to the bottom of the conspiracy, we are all for it," said Sanjay Jha, Congress Spokesperson.

In an interview with Times Now, Rahul Gandhi had said, "The fact of the matter is that innocent people died in 1984 and innocent people dying is a horrible thing and should not happen. The difference between Gujarat and 1984 was that the Government of Gujarat was involved in the riots."

"The difference between the 1984 riots and the riots in Gujarat was that in 1984 the Government was trying to stop the riots. In Gujarat the opposite was the case. The Government in Gujarat was actually abetting and pushing the riots further," Gandhi had said.

Asked about the likely involvement of Congressmen, Gandhi had said, "Some Congressmen were probably involved in the riots."