1984 Riots Revisited: Amit Shah Targets Congress in Chandigarh

Amit Shah, the Union Home Minister, revived the memory of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots while attacking the Congress party and Rahul Gandhi. Speaking in Chandigarh, he said the Congress's politics had led to the killing of thousands of Sikhs, and accused Rahul Gandhi of organizing a major Delhi rally on the same date.

At a public meeting held at Tiranga Park, Shah said that on November 1, 1984, riots instigated by the Congress led to the savage killing of thousands of Sikhs in Delhi. Thousands were burned alive, many Sikhs were forced to flee, several children became orphans, women lost their husbands, and countless families were left with destroyed homes.

Shah referred to a statement by then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, who had said that when a big tree falls, the earth shakes. He argued that only Congress leaders could speak of a massacre of thousands of Sikhs in such a way.

He said that since the Narendra Modi government came to power, riot-related cases had been reopened. Victims were provided financial aid of five lakh rupees each, and several major Congress leaders had been sent to jail. Shah claimed that the country had never witnessed riots sponsored by a political party in this manner before.

The Home Minister also questioned the Congress's rally in Delhi. He said he had believed Rahul Gandhi was young at the time and might not have read history, and therefore might be unaware of the dates of the 1984 riots. He said the BJP had urged the Congress, through a press conference, not to hold a rally on November 1, 2 and 3, the dates of the anti-Sikh riots, as this would hurt the sentiments of Sikh families, mothers, sisters and children. Despite the appeal, the Congress did not revise its decision.

Shah alleged that the party decided to hold the rally on the very day thousands of Sikhs were burned alive, after receiving directions from abroad. He said he condemned this effort strongly and that the land of the Gurus and Punjab would never forget the tragedy.

He also raised the difficulties faced by Delhi traders over the INDIA alliance rally. He said traders had requested the Congress to change the date, as the days of Diwali are crucial for their business. Traders prepare large stocks of sweets, firecrackers and new clothes for children, and unsold goods cause heavy losses. People from across northern India come to Delhi's wholesale markets for Diwali shopping.

According to Shah, the business done in these three to four days amounts to about 25,000 crore rupees. He said traders held three press conferences, wrote letters and made repeated appeals for the rally to be scheduled after Diwali, but the Congress did not change the date.

Shah then spoke about the achievements of the central government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying the country was advancing at an unprecedented pace. He cited the removal of Article 370, the end of Naxalism and the abolition of triple talaq. He urged people to remember his promise that Punjab and the whole country would be made drug-free by December 31, 2029, and reiterated that the campaign against drugs was a top priority.

Regarding Chandigarh, Shah expressed confidence in its future. He said Administrator Gulab Chand Kataria would provide information within a week on solutions to three major problems pending for the last 30 to 40 years. He added that the BJP government, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, would work to make Chandigarh the number one administrative unit in the country.

Earlier, Shah inaugurated and laid the foundation stones for development and infrastructure projects worth 258 crore rupees in Chandigarh before addressing the gathering at Tiranga Park.