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Manmohan apologises to Sikhs for ’84 riots
“I bow my head in shame that such a thing took place”
New Delhi, August 11
Seeking to assuage the sentiments of the Sikh community, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today apologised on behalf of his government for the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, saying he was not standing on any “false prestige” and his head bowed in shame.
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News Analysis
PM assuages feelings of Sikh community
New Delhi, August 11
That heads had to role in the Congress following the G T Nanavati Commission report on the 1984 anti-Sikh riots was evident.

’84 riots: govt forms 2 panels for relief
Opposition motion on Nanavati report defeated in RS
New Delhi, August 11
The Opposition-sponsored motion on Nanavati Commission report was today defeated in the Rajya Sabha by voice vote after Home Minister Shivraj Patil announced setting up of two committees to ensure due compensation to victims of 1984 anti-Sikh riots.

Cabinet cleared ATR without discussion
New Delhi, August 11
The UPA Government’s Action Taken Report on the Nanavati Commission report, which triggered a political storm forcing the Centre to backtrack on it, was cleared by the Union Cabinet without a discussion, it is reliably learnt.

BJP seeks apology from PM, Sonia
New Delhi, August 11
The BJP today demanded that Congress President Sonia Gandhi and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh should apologise to the nation for the "carnage" during 1984
anti-Sikh riots saying that the resignations of Congress MPs Jagdish Tytler and Sajjan Kumar from official positions was not enough.

Trilokpuri Sikhs disenchanted with Prime Minister
New Delhi, August 11
Sikh families of Trilokpuri, the worst affected trans-Yamuna locality in the anti-Sikh riots, are disenchanted with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh from whom they have high hopes of getting justice.

SAD stages dharna
New Delhi, August 11
Not satisfied with the Prime Minister’s assurance and resignation of Minister of State for Overseas Affairs Jagdish Tytler, Shiromani Akali Dal workers and 1984 anti-Sikh riot victims sat on a dharna at Parliament Street today, demanding registration of cases against Congress leaders, indicted by the Nanavati Commission, besides setting up of special courts to deal with the cases.

Sajjan resigns as rural welfare board chief
 New Delhi, August 11
In the second head to roll following indictment of Delhi Congress leaders in the Nanavati Commission report, senior party MP, Mr Sajjan Kumar today resigned as Chairman of Delhi Rural Development Board. Kumar, who represents Outer Delhi in Lok Sabha, sent his resignation to the Chief Minister, Mrs Sheila Dikshit, who accepted it.

Resignations too little, too late: Sikhs
Ludhiana, August 11
The resignations of Mr Jagdish Tytler from the Union Cabinet and Mr Sajjan Kumar as Chairman of the Delhi Rural Development Board following threats and protests by the Congress allies in the United Progressive Alliance over his indictment by the Nanavati Commission does not appear to assuage the feelings of the Sikhs in general and the riot victims in particular.

Woman of courage — a riot story
Mohali, August 11
A majority of Mohali residents know Inderjit Kaur of Phase 11, only as a former councillor. But there are a few who know her as the fearless daughter who risked her life while facing the fury of a crowd bent upon killing her father during the 84 riots in Shakarpur, New Delhi.

• Effigies of Tytler, Sajjan, Bhagat burnt

Editorial
PM applies balm
Rare apology for ’84 riots
What should have been done by earlier Prime Ministers has finally been done by Dr Manmohan Singh. He profusely apologised to the Sikhs for and the nation for the 1984 riots. “I have no hesitation in apologising not only to the Sikh community but to the whole nation, because what took place in 1984 is a negation of the concept of nationhood enshrined in the Constitution….On behalf of our government, on behalf of the entire people of this country, I bow my head in shame,” the Prime Minister said.

Jagdish Tytler quits
President accepts resignation
New Delhi, August 10
After holding out for two days Union Minister Jagdish Tytler finally resigned from the Cabinet tonight. Mr Tytler handed over his resignation letter to Congress President Sonia Gandhi after Prime Minister Manmohan Singh assured the Lok Sabha that the Centre would conduct a fresh enquiry against persons who drew adverse comments in the Nanavati Commission report probing the 1984 anti-Sikh riots.

PM promises all steps to reopen ’84 riot cases
New Delhi, August 10
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today said the government would take all possible steps within the ambit of law to reopen or further examine individual cases recommended by the commission on the 1984 anti-Sikh riots.

NDA, Left want action, not just resignation
New Delhi, August 10
The Opposition NDA and the Left Parties tonight demanded concrete action and implementation of the Nanavati Commission recommendations in full.

Alexander rebuts Gavai’s charges on ’84 riots
New Delhi, August 10
Rejecting criticism against him, the then Principal Secretary to Prime Minister today charged the then Delhi Lt Governor P.G. Gavai with making “totally incorrect” statements with regard to dealing with the anti-Sikh riots in the capital.

DSGMC for action against guilty Cong leaders
New Delhi, August 10
Disappointed with the findings of the Nanavati Commission, the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee today demanded action against the Congress leaders named in the 1984 riots probe.

’84 riots: book guilty, says Oppn
New Delhi, August 10
Rejecting the action taken report (ATR) of the government on the Nanavati Commission report, the Opposition today demanded registration of cases against the guilty in the anti-Sikh riots in 1984 and additional compensation to the victims.

BJP asks PM to apologise to nation
New Delhi, August 10
The BJP today upped its ante against the Congress-led UPA government on the Nanavati Commission report asking Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to either distance himself from his party or apologise to the nation. It also asked the Prime Minister to get cases filed against the guilty and remove “suspected” ministers from the Union Cabinet.

Thackeray says he prevented Sikhs’ massacre
Mumbai, August 10
Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray said today that he had prevented the massacre of Sikhs in Mumbai following the assassination of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi on October 31, 1984.

RS adjourned over Nanavati report
New Delhi, August 10
The Rajya Sabha was adjourned for the second day today as a determined Opposition stalled proceedings demanding action against those indicted by the Nanavati Commission.

MP assuages riot victims’ feelings
New Delhi, August 10
Congress MP Ashwani Kumar has said that the final outcome of the Nanavati report will be such as would be consistent with constitutional propriety and conveying the sensitivity of the people.

Punjabi spirit triumphs
Mohali, August 10
Time can dull memories but not pain. All it takes is a single episode and the wounds reopen. For Manjit Singh and his wife Inderjit, even 21 years after their house and shop were reduced to ashes, fear of death still comes alive as it did when they saw the angry mob armed with bricks and burning flames on their doorstep on November 1, 1984.

Govt may amend ATR on Nanavati report
Congress in damage control mode
New Delhi, August 9
Faced with an Opposition onslaught and adverse public reaction on the Centre’s response to the Nanavati Commission report on the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, a worried Congress went into damage control mode today.

Nanavati report rocks Parliament
New Delhi, August 9
The Nanavati Commission report on the 1984 anti-Sikh riots today rocked both Houses of Parliament as BJP and Akali Dal members made a vociferous demand for action against those indicted by the commission, leading to adjournment of the two houses.

NDA seeks PM’s resignation
New Delhi, August 9
Former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee today launched a determined attack on the UPA Government saying that people named in the Nanavati Commission report on the 1984 anti-Sikh riots should resign from the Council of Ministers and asserted that as Prime Minister Manmohan Singh too was responsible for the Action Taken Report.

Sikhism a separate religion, says Singhal
New Delhi, August 9
Vishwa Hindu Parishad working President Ashok Singhal has categorically told the National Commission of Minorities that his organisation looks upon the Sikh Panth with great admiration and pride along with recognising the Sikh community as having a separate religious identity.

Nanavati report: police turned a blind eye to riots
New Delhi, August 9
More than two decades later, the Justice Nanavati Commission report has revealed that only one police official, Amir Khan, ASI of Trilokpuri, was convicted in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots in which more than 3000 Sikhs were killed in Delhi alone.

Muslim leaders flay govt action on report
New Delhi, August 9
Reacting on the government’s half-hearted action over indictment of Union Minister Jagdish Tytler, Congress leader Sajjan Kumar and number of police officials by the Nanavati Commission, Muslim leaders today reacted sharply and expressed doubts “about the safety of their rights in the hands of a ‘secular’ Congress-led UPA government.”

Akalis to gherao Parliament today
New Delhi, August 9
The Delhi unit of the Shiromani Akali Dal plans to `gherao’ Parliament tomorrow to protest against the government’s action taken report to the Nanavati Commission’s findings, which had indicated Union Minister Jagdish Tytler for his involvement in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots.

’84 riots: commission confines report to Delhi
New Delhi, August 9
The Justice Nanavati Commission, which had the mandate to probe afresh 1984 anti-Sikh riots across the country, has confined its observations only to Delhi even though it had received 2557 affidavits from all across the country, of which over 40 per cent were from outside the Capital.

Bhagat made scapegoat by Cong, says son
New Delhi, August 9
As one enters the Apollo hospital in the far away Sarita Vihar to know about the condition of Mr H.K.L. Bhagat, former Information and Broadcasting Minister, accused of inciting Congress workers’ crowds to kill and rob Sikhs during the 1984 riots in the national Capital, one is stopped by the hospital security guards.

Left asks govt to act on Nanavati report
New Delhi, August 9
Heat is finally turning up against Union Minister Jagdish Tytler with the Left parties joining the issue on the Nanavati Commission by asking the government today to launch prosecution against those whose culpability has been indicated by the Commission of inquiry into the 1984 anti-Sikh riots.

ATR on Nanavati Report
Kalam’s intervention sought
Amritsar, August 9
The SGPC chief, Bibi Jagir Kaur, today said the Political Affairs Committee of the SAD (Badal) would be convened on August 13 and 14 to intensify the protest against the failure of the Congress government to provide justice to the thousands of victims of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots.

SAD plans protest against Centre
Bathinda, August 9
The Shiromani Akali Dal will take out a protest against the Central Government for “giving a clean chit to those responsible for the 1984 riots”, stated SAD chief Parkash Singh Badal while interacting with mediapersons here today.

• SAD to hold agitations today against govt ‘inaction’ on report
• SAD to hold two-day meeting
• Sikh leaders flay Cong on Nanavati report
• Effigy of Tytler burnt
• Report rubs salt on wounds: Bhaur
• Punjab Govt lacks moral courage, say ex-servicemen

PCC on defensive over report
Ludhiana, August 9
The Pradesh Congress Committee is finding it difficult to explain the inaction of the UPA government over the recommendations of the Nanavati Commission that probed the 1984 anti Sikh riots.

Sikhs demand action against tainted leaders
Chandigarh/Mohali August 9
Various organisations in Chandigarh and Mohali today condemned the Nanavati Commission’s action taken report on 1984 anti-Sikh riots. While members of the Sikh community burnt a dummy of the Justice G.T. Nanavati Commission’s report at Sector 17 plaza this afternoon, a protest rally was also organised in Mohali.

Manmohan must quit: Kang
Mohali, August 9
The All-India Youth Akali Dal said today that if Dr Manmohan Singh considered himself a true Sikh he should quit the office of Prime Minister in support of those affected by the 1984 anti-Sikh violence.

Nanavati Commission: 22 Delhi Police officers faced criminal charges
New Delhi, August 9
Besides the then Delhi Police chief being directly indicted by the Nanavati Commission for his failure “to take prompt and effective action” during the 1984 anti-Sikh riots in the Capital, there were 22 other police officers against whom criminal cases were registered.

Nanavati pins Tytler for ’84 riots
Points finger at Sajjan Kumar, H.K.L. Bhagat, D.D. Shastri
New Delhi, August 8
The Nanavati Commission of Inquiry into the 1984 riots, terming it as an organised attack on the Sikhs, has indicted Union Minister Jagdish Tytler saying there was “credible evidence” against him, that he had “very probably” had a hand in the organising attacks and demanded that the government should take “further action as may be necessary”.

‘ATR not to my satisfaction,’ says Nanavati
New Delhi, August 8
In a significant development, Justice G.T. Nanavati today expressed dissatisfaction with the Action Taken Report tabled by the government following his voluminous report on 1984 anti-Sikh riots. 

No action to be taken against Tytler, says govt
New Delhi, August 8
Despite the hue and cry in different sections of society on the Nanavati Commission Report and the ATR, the Centre today defended its decision not to go ahead with the prosecution of Union Minister Jagdish Tytler on “mere probability” of his involvement.

•  Govt puts up brave face, defends police officers
•  Government ready to discuss report

ATR on Nanavati panel mere eyewash: SAD
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.

• Akal Takht rejects report
• Minorities panel not satisfied with report

NDA to launch nationwide protest
New Delhi, August 8
Lashing out at the action taken report on the Nanavati Commission’s findings as a “white wash report”, the Bharatiya Janata Party today said the NDA leaders would soon meet the President and demand action against the accused in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots.

10 commissions, panels probed ’84 riots 
New Delhi, August 8
Since the 1984 anti-Sikh riots that followed the assassination of the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, in which over 3,000 persons were killed, the government had appointed 10 commissions and committee to inquire into the incident.

Cong to counter BJP bid to tarnish PM’s image
New Delhi, August 8
The Congress is all set to launch a blistering attack against the BJP for questioning Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s credentials as a Sikh following the UPA government’s response to the Nanavati Commission report on the 1984 anti-Sikh riots.

• Clean chit to Rajiv, Rao

Sikh sentiments hurt, says Akali Dal (A)
Sangrur, August 8
The district unit of the Akali Dal (Amritsar) at a meeting held under the presidentship of Mr Jeet Singh Alloarkh, here today criticised the Nanavati Commission Report related to the Anti-Sikh riots in 1984. The report was tabled in Parliament today.

A shameful shield for killers, rapists: Badal
Chandigarh, August 8
Coming down heavily on the Congress-led Government at the centre, The President of the Shiromani Akali Dal, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, today described the government’s Action Taken Report on the Nanavati Commission’s indictment of Congress leaders for organizing and leading the brutal massacre of innocent Sikhs in 1984 as “a shameful government shield for killers and rapists.”

• Punjab most unsafe place now: Badal

It’s betrayal, say ’84 riot victims
Hold protest demonstration 
Ludhiana, August 8
Hundreds of the victims of the 1984 riots, which took place in Delhi and other parts of the country in the aftermath of the assassination Indira Gandhi at the hands of her own security guards, today condemned the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance government for letting off the main accused by “not initiating action” against them.