The Hindu : New Delhi News : Sikh body opposes candidature of '84 riot accused

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Apr 21, 2004

New Delhi

New Delhi

Sikh body opposes candidature of '84 riot accused

By Our Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI, APRIL 20. Expressing their deep anguish over the candidature of Sajjan Kumar, Jagdish Tytler and R.K. Anand from Delhi, The Sikh Forum today declared that it would oppose the Congress in the general election. "By giving tickets to those responsible for the massacre of thousands of Sikhs, the so-called secular credentials of the Congress now lie exposed. We will appeal to Sikhs and all the law-abiding citizens of the nation to vote any other party except for the Congress," said the Forum president, Jagjit Singh Aurora.

"It is like rewarding those who killed innocent Sikhs in 1984. The Congress has once again rubbed salt on the wounds of Sikhs who have still not forgotten whatever happened to them in 1984. It is an open truth that it was Sajjan Kumar and Jagdish Tytler led the killer mobs in Delhi while R.K. Anand defended them in court. This proves that Congress is as communal as the BJP and has no moral right to raise the issue of Gujarat riots," said Lt. Gen. Aurora.

According to the 1971 Bangladesh War hero, before giving tickets to these leaders, the Congress should have waited for the Justice Nanavati Commission report that has already issued notices to Mr. Kumar and Mr. Tytler in the anti-Sikh riot case.

"We will mobilise people not only in Delhi but also appeal to voters across the nation not to vote for the Congress. We will hold public meetings and organise campaigns exposing the real face of the party."

The Forum secretary, R.S. Chatwal, informed that in February this year, he had written to the Congress president, Sonia Gandhi, urging her not to give the party ticket to Mr. Kumar and Mr. Tytler as "it would be a great injustice to the widows of the 1984 riots and all those who suffered during that time". But still Ms. Gandhi ignored the sentiments of the Sikh community, he added.

The Forum leaders also urged all the Sikh leaders in the Congress including the senior Congress leader, Manmohan Singh, the Punjab Chief Minister, Amrinder Singh, to quit the party in protest. "No true Sikh will tolerate this injustice. The Congress should be taught a lesson for this misdemeanour," they added.

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