Sikh Forum wants Kamal Nath to quit for involvement in riots

New Delhi, Oct 31 (UNI) The Sikh Forum today demanded that Commerce Minister Kamal Nath should resign and be punished as per the law of the land in the wake of his name figuring in a latest book amomg those Congress leaders who were involved in the November 1984 anti-Sikh riots in Delhi.

Quoting from the book, authored by Manoj Mitta, a senior journalist and HS Phoolka, an advocate ,the Forum alleged that Mr Kamal Nath was ''leading the mob at Gurdwara Rakabganj, next to Parliament House on November 1, which burnt the religious place and two Sikhs alive''.

The book ''When a Tree Shook Delhi- The 1984 Carnage and Its Aftermath'' furnishes the relevant records, evidence of the witnesses and Mr Nath's own admission before the National Commission, the Forum said in a release here.

The Forum also cited a newspaper report of Nomverber 1, 1984, reproduced in the book, that about two hours Mr Nath spent with the mob was duly reported by an English daily. And, the reporter Sanjay Suri who reported the matter, also later filed an affidavit to that effect before the Misra Commission and also he made an oral depostion before the Nanavati Commission.

A day later on Nomvember 3 , the release said, again quoting the book, that another English daily, pulished from Delhi too, also carried a composite report on the carnage that referred to Mr Kamal Nath's alleged presence with the mob engaged in rioting and looting.

The Forum also cited the public exposures by the senior Delhi police officers on the presence of Mr Nath with the frenzied mob.

And, Mr Nath was ,later, served a notive by Nanvati Commission and he too acknowledged his presence at the scene of crime, the release added.

''The Prime Minister should ask Mr Nath to step down to ensure uninfluenced investigation by the police,'' Forum secretary RS Chhatwal said.

UNI