New Delhi [India], October 31 : Amid his criticism of Congress over the 1984 anti-Sikh violence, Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri on Friday said that under Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), minorities are "flourishing" in India.
Suggesting that Congress introspects on the events of 1984 anti-Sikh violence, Puri said that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) doesn't believe in appeasement politics while Congress reaches out to minorities only to "do this to them".
"Every minority community is flourishing today. BJP doesn't play appeasement politics. Congress reaches out to minority communities, fuels them and then does this to them. I think the people in the Congress party today ought to do some serious introspection on the events of 1984 on that particular day," Puri said in an interview with ANI.
He said that Congress must apologise properly, which has not happened in all these years.
"I would like to hear a reply from the Congress. I was waiting for somebody to go to the Harmandir Sahib, to Darbar Sahib and at least apologise properly. I haven't seen that in all these years," Puri added.
In a post on X, Praising Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership, Puri said that one must value the era of inclusive development and peace. He asserted that India keeps its minorities safe and ensures development for all without discrimination.
"Today is the time to remember that violence with anger and rage even as we pay homage to the victims and empathise with the anguish and pain of the families they left behind. It is time to value the era of inclusive development and peace that we live in under the leadership of PM Narendra Modi. Today, India not only keeps its minorities safe but also ensures Sabka Sath, Sabka Vikas without prejudice or discrimination," the Union Minister said.
Puri trained guns on Congress, accusing its leaders of leading mobs outside Gurudwaras to commit violence against the Sikh community. He said that institutions meant to uphold the law surrendered their conscience and allowed the violence to continue.
"Congress leaders were seen leading mobs outside Gurdwaras, as even police stood watching. The very institutions meant to uphold law and order surrendered their conscience and allowed a free hand to these leaders," Puri posted on X.
He alleged that a meeting was held at the residence of a Congress MLA, where they decided to "teach a lesson" to Sikhs. He further stated that the actions of Congress leaders were corroborated by the Nanavati Commission of 2005.
"At a Congress MLA's house, leaders met and decided that Sikhs 'must be taught a lesson'. Inflammable powder and chemicals were procured from factories and handed to mobs. Years later, all this was corroborated by the Nanavati Commission (2005) which very clearly said how 'There is credible evidence against Congress(I) leaders who led mobs and provoked attacks'," Puri said.
The Union Minister said that Congress enabled the massacre against Sikhs and protected the perpetrators.
"Even their own report confirmed what survivors always knew. Congress did not fail to stop the massacre. It enabled it. Later, Congress shamelessly went to deny the Anti-Sikh violence for decades. They protected the perpetrators and gave them plum postings (even party tickets to contest elections) as rewards," Puri said.
Puri recalled the horrors of 1984 violence against the Sikh community, saying that the violence came close to his house in Hauz Khas.
Puri informed that his parents, who lived in a DDA flat, were rescued in time by his friend.
"Like all other members of my Sikh Sangat this violence also came close to my house. I was then a young first secretary posted in Geneva at that time and was extremely worried about the safety and wellbeing of my parents who lived in a DDA flat in SFS, Hauz Khas. They were rescued in time by my Hindu friend and taken to my grandparents' first floor house in Khan Market even as unimaginable violence raged across Delhi and several other cities," Puri posted on X.
The anti-Sikh violence started on October 31, 1984, following the assassination of Indira Gandhi and continued for several days.
Earlier, a Rouse Avenue Court in Delhi on Wednesday directed the Prosecution to file written submissions in a 1984 Sikh riots case against former Congress MP Sajjan Kumar.
Sajjan Kumar is facing trial in a case linked to FIRs registered at Janakpuri and Vikas Puri Police Stations.
The Janakpuri case pertains to the killing of two Sikhs, Sohan Singh and his son-in-law Avtar Singh, on November 1, 1984. The second case was registered in the Vikaspuri police station related to the burning of Gurcharan Singh on November 2, 1984.
Special Judge Dig Vinay Singh asked the Prosecution to file written submissions and listed the matter for arguements on November 27 and December 4.