Union Home Minister Amit Shah has accused the Congress of disregarding Sikh sentiments by holding a gathering in Delhi on the anniversary of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, when, he said, thousands of Sikhs were burnt alive.
Speaking from what he described as the land of the Gurus, Shah said the Narendra Modi government had reopened all cases linked to the violence, provided ₹5 lakh in assistance to riot victims and put prominent Congress leaders behind bars. These were claims made by Shah in his speech.
He said India had neither seen nor would see such politically motivated riots, and criticised the Congress for its role. Shah referred to former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi’s 1984 remark that when a big tree falls, the earth shakes.
Shah also targeted Rahul Gandhi, alleging that the Delhi event had been organised to rub salt into the wounds of riot survivors. He said his party had repeatedly urged Congress not to hold the gathering on the dates associated with the Sikh riots, warning that it would hurt the feelings of Sikh men, women and children.
Alleging that the Congress went ahead despite those appeals and an instruction from abroad, Shah condemned what he called the party’s “malicious attempt”. He said Punjab and India would never forget it.
