BJP will never forgive 1984 rioters, says party chief Nitin Nabin
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) chief Nitin Nabin on Thursday said the country will never forget the 1984 riots in which Sikhs were massacred, “nor will the BJP ever forgive the rioters”.
Speaking at the 'Punjabi Gaurav Sammelan' (Punjabi pride conference) in Uttarakhand's Rudrapur, a region with a significant Sikh and Punjabi population, Nabin recalled the 1984 tragedy, noting that while words fail to describe the agony of that period, "we have seen the weight of that suffering reflected on all your faces."
Quoting former prime minister late Atal Bihari Vajpayee, the BJP chief remarked, "A dagger has been driven into our hearts, and a rift has opened where unity once prevailed."
The Rajya Sabha MP highlighted that despite the grave injustice meted out to innocent Sikhs, no concrete action was taken and no culprits were punished for nearly three decades.
Only in 2015 did Prime Minister Narendra Modi form a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to bring justice, the BJP president said.
Expressing his gratitude to the prime minister, Nabin said, "Today, from this platform, I reiterate that the nation will never forget the inhumane sin committed against our innocent Sikh brothers in 1984, and the BJP will never forgive the perpetrators."
Nabin also paid tribute to the community's resilience, acknowledging that the Punjabi and Sikh societies bore the heaviest burden during the Partition.
"Despite immense hardships, they re-established themselves through hard work and courage while making significant contributions to the nation's growth," he said.
He pointed out that thousands of Sikh and Punjabi families who settled in the Terai region post-Partition transformed it into the "granary of Uttarakhand."
"The massive structure of development visible in the Terai today stands on the foundation laid by our Punjabi and Sikh brothers," Nabin said.
Recognising the community's legacy from the freedom struggle to safeguarding national borders, Nabin said the Sikh tradition of service and brotherhood serves as an inspiration for the entire nation.
He also highlighted several historic decisions undertaken by the Modi administration for the community.
Specifically mentioning the Kartarpur Sahib Corridor, he noted that for 70 years, devotees could only offer prayers to Kartarpur Sahib, where Guru Nanak Dev spent foundational years of his life, by gazing through binoculars from across the border.
“However, under the Prime Minister’s leadership, the opening of the corridor now allows pilgrims to visit the sacred site in person,” he said.
Nabin further noted that the day commemorating the sacrifice of Guru Gobind Singh’s Sahibzadas (sons) has been officially designated as 'Veer Baal Diwas' to inspire future generations.
He further said that to ease the arduous pilgrimage to Hemkund Sahib in Uttarakhand’s Garhwal Himalayas, a ₹2,700-crore ropeway project connecting Govindghat to Hemkund Sahib has also been proposed.
Speaking on other issues, the BJP president described substance abuse, particularly in Punjab, as a critical threat to the nation's youth.
He also pledged to eradicate the menace with the same firm resolve used against Naxalism, referencing the 'Viksit Bharat ke liye Nashamukt Yuva Sankalp Abhiyan' campaign aimed at keeping the younger generation away from drugs.
He concluded by commending Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami’s inclusive governance, emphasizing his commitment to driving progress for every section of society.
