Several Sikh groups, including Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal), on Thursday staged a protest outside the Congress HQs at 24 Akbar Road and demanded that Congress V-P Rahul Gandhi reveal the names of party members who were involved in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots. In a recent interview, Gandhi had said that “some Congressmen were probably involved in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots and they have been punished for it.” The protesters shouted anti-Congress slogans and held up black flags and placards, one of which read, CBI should question Rahul Gandhi for Congress’ involvement in 1984 riots, “We want justice. We want to know who were those people who were involved in the riots,” said one of the protesters. “If Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal is really with us, we welcome him, but if he is doing politics, we would like to request him not to do so,” another protester said.
The 200-odd demonstrators marched towards the Congress HQs and managed to break the first barricade. They were stopped, however, at the second barricade by police. Many of them were detained and taken to Tughlaq Road PS from where they were later released. Congress leaders Jagdish Tytler and Sajjan Kumar are facing allegations of involvement in the riots which occurred in the aftermath of former PM Indira Gandhi’s assassination on October 31, 1984.
