New Delhi, August 8
Akalis today decried the action taken report on the Nanavati Commission on 1984 anti-Sikh riots as a “mere eyewash”, and blamed Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for his failure to secure justice to the members of the community even 21 years after more than 3,000 persons were killed in an organised manner by Congress leaders in the heart of the Indian capital.
“Prime Minister had a
clear image. But, his failure to secure justice to the members of his own community would always remain as a black spot,” said Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, leader of the Shiromani Akali Dal in the Lok Sabha.
Talking to reporters after the report was tabled today, Dhindsa said, “The members of the community had high expectations that they would finally get justice with a Sikh at the helm of affairs. That hope has been dashed.”
SAD leader Sukhbir Singh Badal said, “The commission’s report and the action taken report on it are an eyewash aimed at protecting senior Congress leaders.” He said 21 years have passed and nine inquiry commissions have submitted their reports but none of the guilty has been punished.
Denying his involvement in the riots, Union Minister Jagdish Tytler told mediapersons that he was ready to face inquiry if any evidence comes up. He said the evidence on which the
commission based its observations was withdrawn by the accuser.
“The Commission has based its remarks on me on the basis of an
affidavit filed by one Surinder Singh, which was later withdrawn by him,” Tytler said. He said, “do not attach my name to other Congress leaders (who have been named in the report).”
The Nanavati Commission has observed that there is a “credible evidence” to the effect that he was “very probably” had a hand in organising attacks on Sikhs.
Apart from Tytler, Congress leaders Sajjan Kumar and late Dharam Dass Shastri have been accused of the involvement in the riots.
BJP leader S.S. Ahluwalia took objection to the use of word riots to describe killings of Sikhs in the wake of assassination of Indira Gandhi saying that it was “genocide.”
He said the Nanavati Commission report has tried to
exonerate those involved in the killings of thousands of Sikhs and wanted action against all those mentioned in the report. “Prime Minister Manmohan Singh himself was a Sikh and the ATR of the government on the report has dealt a blow to his image,” Ahluwalia said.
Meanwhile, Sikh organisations have decided to take out a protest march to Parliament tomorrow and copies of the action taken report would be burnt.
“It is strange that for the killing of 3000 people, not a single person has been held guilty. The report has given a boost to the morale of rioters. Anyone can commit a crime and can easily get away,” said Akali Dal (Panthak) President Manjit Singh.
“We are trying to bring all Sikh groups under single umbrella for launching the protest on a big scale,” he said.
The pro-Congress Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee President Paramjit Singh Sarna said, “The government should reconsider its stand. If it fails to deliver justice, it would amount to murder of democracy.”
