With Congress leader Kamal Nath resigning as the party’s in-charge of Punjab affairs, Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju on Thursday said the move is a clear evidence of the fact that the massacre of Sikhs in 1984 was a very well organised and orchestrated by the grand old party and its leaders.
“We just saw the news that Kamal Nath has been withdrawn as the in-charge for the Punjab election. Probably, the Congress realized that they have made a mistake. It is very clear and evident that the massacre of Sikhs in 1984 was a very well-organised and orchestrated by the Congress and its leaders. So, they must have probably realized it,” said Rijiju.
Kamal Nath, whose appointment drew sharp criticism from the Shiromani Akali Dal(SAD) and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), stepped down as the general secretary in-charge of the Punjab Affairs following a controversy over his alleged role in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots.
A day after Kamal Nath resigned from his post, Congress has appointed Shiela Dikshit as Punjab in-charge for the party.
Sonia Gandhi had accepted his resignation on Wednesday itself. Now, former Delhi CM Shiela Dikshit will replace him and handle the charge.
“Certain elements are raking up these issues now only for political gains. I am touched by the support shown by our party workers and leaders in Punjab in rejecting the false accusations. I am a practitioner of Nehruvian politics and maligning of the Congress party using false accusations is unacceptable to me,” Nath said in the letter.
“Hoping that the party focuses on the upcoming elections rather than the furore over his appointment, he added the Congress must highlight the issues of misgovernance, misery of farmers and youth, break down of law and order and rampant drug trade in Punjab. Given this, I request that I may be relieved of my charge to ensure that the attention is not diverted from the real issues facing Punjab,” he said.
