BJP leaders, members of the Sikh community and families of victims of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots on Monday held a protest march from Gurdwara Bangla Sahib to Gurdwara Rakab Ganj Sahib, accusing the Congress of reopening old wounds by holding a rally on November 1. The march was organised as part of the BJP’s ‘Save Democracy, Remove Anarchy’ campaign. Protesters carried banners reading, “The nation will not forget the genocide of Sikhs by the Congress,” while raising slogans against the party.
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MPs Bansuri Swaraj and Kamaljeet Sehrawat, along with other party leaders and workers, participated in the march.
Addressing reporters, Sehrawat accused the Congress of failing to acknowledge the suffering of the Sikh community during the 1984 riots and alleged that its November 1 rally had hurt the sentiments of victims’ families. “Instead of paying tribute to them and applying balm to their wounds, they have held a rally on November 1 and reopened those wounds,” she said.
She also referred to former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi’s remarks following the 1984 violence, alleging that the Congress leadership had encouraged the atmosphere that led to the attacks.
Sehrawat said the march was an attempt to pay tribute to those killed in the violence and stand in solidarity with their families.
Responding to a question on AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal’s remarks that the prime minister and the home minister would also have to answer questions, she said Prime Minister Narendra Modi enjoyed the confidence of the people. She also accused Congress leader Rahul Gandhi of making light of the Sikh community’s suffering and demanded an explanation from him.