Some Congress leaders were involved in 1984 riots, admits Punjab CM Amarinder Singh

New Delhi: A day after he came out in the defense of Congress chief Rahul Gandhi over his latest remarks on 1984 anti-Sikh riots, Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Monday admitted that only some leaders from the grand-old party were involved in the genocide.

"The incident (1984 Sikh riot) took place when Indira ji was killed. At that time, Rajiv Gandhi was at an airport in Bengal. There was no Congress involvement other than some people. I have named few people, Sajjan Kumar, Dharamdas Shastri, Arjun Das and two more people," Captain Amarinder Singh said today. 

Reacting to his statement, the Shrimoni Akali Dal (SAD) hit out at the Punjab Chief Minister and accused him of holding a soft corner for 1984 main accused Jagdish Tytler by not mentioning him in his speech. "Captain Amarinder Singh should write to the Supreme Court that he is the biggest and main witness in the case. Amarinder took names of five accused in the case, including Sajjan Kumar, Dharamdas Shastri and Arjun Das. But, he has a soft corner for Jagdish Tytler and hence, he did not mention his name as the accused in the case," SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal said. 

Congress President Rahul Gandhi triggered a major controversy on Friday by denying his party's involvement in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots that shook the nation and claimed thousands of Sikh lives. Rahul was asked about the involvement of his partymen in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots when he describes the incident as a tragedy and a painful experience. He, however, disagreed that his party was involved. 

"I think any violence done against anybody is wrong. There are legal processes ongoing in India but as far as I'm concerned anything is done that was wrong during that period should be punished and I would support that 100 percent," he said. 

His remarks on 1984 riots drew severe criticism from BJP and Akali Dal leader who sought to remind the Gandhi scion of direct involvement of several Congress leaders in instigating the genocide.

Yesterday, the SAD had hit out at Congress chief Rahul Gandhi over his remarks on the 1984 riots, saying by disagreeing with the view that his party was involved in the genocide, he had salt into the wounds of the Sikh community.

Nearly 3,000 Sikhs were killed, mostly in Delhi, in riots that followed the 1984 assassination of then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi by two of her Sikh bodyguards. Some Congress politicians, Sajjan Kumar included, have been accused of leading the killer mobs.