Under fire, Congress lists steps taken after '84 riots

New Delhi: Under fire over its chief Rahul Gandhi’s remarks that the Congress was not involved in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, the party on Sunday enumerated the steps it had taken after the unfortunate events and said its opponents should not sensationalise tragic incidents for political gains.

The Congress president, who was on a two-day visit to the United Kingdom, told an audience of Parliamentarians and local leaders of the country on Saturday that the incident was a tragedy and a painful experience, but disagreed with the view that the Congress was “involved”. On Sund-ay, Congress spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi said, “Constantly distorting what Rahul Gandhi says is not going to convert untruth and lies into truth,” and added that opponents of the Congress should not sensationalise tragic events for political gains.

Mr Singhvi was reacting to Shiromani Akali Dal’s comments that Mr Gandhi’s remarks on Sikh riots have “rubbed salt into the wounds” of the Sikh community.

Enumerating steps taken by the Congress after the riots, he asked the SAD to tell what their partner BJP did after the 2002 riots in Gujarat.

“The Congress from this forum and all over the country at least a thousand times has condemned that tragic episode, calling it the most unfortunate event, condemned it and never in the remotest sense directly or indirectly supported it. Even the Prime Minister of that time had apologised,” Mr Singhvi said.

The Congress spokesperson also claimed that many senior leaders suffered serious harm in their political careers due to their alleged association with that event.

“A large number have faced criminal prosecution, some have been convicted, some are pending but the Congress has never interfered”.