Following Sajjan Kumar’s conviction for the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, Union Minister Arun Jaitley described the court verdict “a delayed vindication of justice”. At the same time Jaitley said he was said as the verdict came on a day “when a senior leader who Sikhs believe to be behind riots is being made a minister”. He referred newly-elected Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath, who took oath as the CM on Monday.
Congress however said that the 1984 anti-Sikh riots verdict should not be politicised and the law should take its own course.
Arun Jaitley called convicted Sajjan Kumar a “symbol of the anti-Sikh genocide”. According to the Union Minister, the country had didn’t ever witness “murders on a bigger scale than this”. He also didn’t spare the entire Congress and the Gandhi family by alleging that they were all involved in a “cover-up”.
“This was the worst kind of genocide. Thousands of innocents were burnt and killed by mobs led by Congress leaders. Instead of ensuring justice, the Congress government indulged in a cover-up,” Arun Jaitley was quoted as saying by NDTV.
According to the Finance Minister, the decision may be delayed but the process of bringing culprits to book has started. He hoped that there will be more convictions because many cases are heard on a daily basis.
The incident took place October 31, 1984 when the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi was killed by her Sikh bodyguards. Following the assassination, Congress leaders led mobs which targeted Sikhs all over and killed at least 3000 people from the community.
On Monday, Sajjan Kumar was convicted for killing five members of a family in Raj Nagar in Delhi and torched a gurudwara on November 1, 1984. According to the court, Sajjan Kumar will stay “remainder of his natural life” behind bars. The court cancelled the earlier verdict that acquitted Sajjan Kumar. Kumar has been asked by the court to surrender within December 31.
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