New Delhi | Union Finance Minister and BJP leader Arun Jaitley today while responding to the Delhi High Court’s conviction to Congress leader Sajjan Kumar said that the 1984 anti-Sikh riots were the worst ever genocide India ever saw.
Speaking to media after the Courts verdict, Jaitley said, ” The judgement of Delhi High Court is an extremely welcome development. For many of us who are witnesses, it was perhaps the worst kind of genocide that we ever saw.” Attacking the Congress party Jaitley alleged that Congress governments during that period repeatedly indulged in coverup exercises.
Jailtely further said that the coverups are now being defeated. “Sajjan Kumar was a symbol of 1984 anti-Sikh riots. The legacy of 1984 anti-Sikh riots hangs around the neck of Congress and Gandhi family,” he added. Taking a dig at the Congress over the appointement of Kamal Nath as the Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, Jaitley said,”It’s ironical that the verdict has came on the same day when another leader whom the Sikh Community finds the culprit for the riots is taking oath as the Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh.”
The Delhi High Court on Monday has sentenced Sajjan Kumar to life imprisonment in a 1984 anti-Sikh riot case and has asked Kumar to surrender by 31st December 2018. The High Court has reversed the judgement of the trial court which acquitted Kumar earlier. Along with Sajjan Kumar, Captain Bhagmal, Girdhari Lal and former Congress councilor Balwan Khokhar have been sentenced to life imprisonment. Kishan Khokkar and former legislator Mahender Yadav have been sentenced to 10 years in prison.
Reading the judgement the High Court said,” “In the summer of 1947, during partition, several people were massacred. 37 years later Delhi was the witness of a similar tragedy. The accused enjoyed political patronage and escaped trial.”
Sajjan Kumar is convicted in the 1984 Anti Sikh riot which was ignited after the assassination of Former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi by her bodyguards. Around 2800 people belonging to the Sikh community were killed in India during the anti-Sikh riots. The Delhi High Court earlier on 14 August 2018 started hearing appeals filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and victims against Sajjan Kumar acquittal in the Anti Sikh Riots of 1984in Delhi.
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