PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE/Dehradun
The Bharatiya Janata Party has stated that the comments made on the Sikh community by senior Congress leader Harak Singh Rawat are a reflection of the Congress’ mentality during the 1984 anti-Sikh riots. MLA and BJP State spokesman Khajan Das said that the people will not forgive the Congress despite its leaders making a show of apologising. He challenged the Congress asking whether its leaders can make a similar comment about the vote bank it appeases.
On being asked about the Congress leaders visiting Gurudwaras he opined that this was another unforgivable error of the Congress. The insulting comment made by a former cabinet minister and the Congress State election management committee head, shows how the party views self-respecting and brave members of the Sikh community. “People still remember the time of the 1980 riots when many Congress leaders’ hands were tainted with the blood of thousands of Sikhs. The society witnessed the attempt made to create discord between the Hindus and Sikhs in order to divide the society. The people remember well how those who murdered Sikhs were kept as ministers at the Centre by the Congress party,” the BJP leader said.
Though various Congress leaders are visiting Gurudwaras, the reality is made clear by Rawat’s statement that he “had said all this as a joke”. Das further said, “How can a civilised, responsible and sensitive person make such a joke. This shows the mentality of the Congress and the respect it accords to Sikhism and Sanatan Dharm. Does the Congress dare make such a comment for the community it continues to appease? Any leader making such a comment will not last in the party,” Das added.
