1984 anti-Sikh riots 'wrong': Rahul Gandhi

Amritsar, Nov 19: Young turk of Gandhi family, Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday, Nov 18 said that the 1984 riots against the community in the aftermath of his grandmother's (Indira Gandhi) assassination was 'wrong'.

"The 1984 riots against Sikhs were wrong and people responsible for this should be brought to justice," Rahul told media persons in the Sikh holy city on Tuesday, Nov 18. Sikh community have blamed the Gandhi family and Congress party for the army's operation in the Golden Temple against the Sikh militants and the anti-Sikh riots following the assassination of the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi by two of her Sikh bodyguards.

Rahul termed the 'Operation Bluestar' (the name of the army operation) as a 'tragedy for Punjab'. He added that the Gandhi family did not have any ill-feeling towards Sikhs. Also that the Sikhs hatred against Congress and Gandhis was not true.

"I have travelled across Punjab recently and wherever I have gone I was received with much love and affection. There is no ill-feeling at all. I know that my late grandmother and father, as well as my mother and the entire country are very proud of the Sikhs." "I have seen with my own eyes how when my grandmother lost the elections in 1977 everyone left her. Only her Sikh friends stayed with her," Rahul said, trying to strike an emotional chord with the Sikh community.

In Sept Rahul Gandhi had toured Punjab for three days to revive the Youth Congress in Punjab. He started his tour by a surprise visit to Harmandir Sahib, better known as Golden Temple as a pilgrim in the early morning.

In 1984 while addressing a rally in New Delhi after his mother's assassination on Oct 31, 1984 Rajiv Gandhi, the then Prime Minister justified the violence that led to the death of more than 3000 Sikhs. He said, "when a big tree falls, the earth shakes".

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