Amritsar, Punjab (February 20, 2014): Dal Khalsa has asked “if masterminds and killers of 1984 anti-Sikh killings can escape the so-called long arm of the law and walk freely in the society, then why can’t killers of former PM lead the normal life after completing 23 years in solitary confinement.
Kanwar Pal Singh [File Photo]
Party spokesperson Kanwar Pal Singh took exception to Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi’s expression that “if a Prime Minister’s killers are being released, what kind of justice should the common man expect”.
He also slammed the UPA government for filing a petition in the SC opposing the release of seven convicts. Notably, on government’s petition the SC has restrained the TN government from releasing the prisoners.
“If those who engineered the killings of 3000 Sikhs can become Prime Minister (Rajiv Gandhi and PV Narsima Rao) and other Union Ministers, why there’s a hue and cry on Tamil Nadu government decision to set free the killers of Rajiv”.
To drive his point home, he said the person who engineered the mass killings of Muslims in Gujarat was marching towards the prime minister’s chair.
He said they realize the grief of Rahul, but he should also realize the pain and agony of victims of ‘politics of hatred’ displayed by his father and his coterie.
Hailing the courageous step taken by Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalithaa in deciding to release all 7 life term convicts in Rajiv Gandhi murder case, Singh said they all deserve freedom.
Taking a dig at Punjab CM, he said Parkash Singh Badal should also take inspiration from her. “Jayalalithaa has always tried to articulate regional aspirations while Badal has always exploited the same for electoral gains”, he remarked.
Commenting on the statement of Union Minister Jairam Ramesh in which he termed 1984 carnage as blot on the face of India and the Congress, he wondered what was stopping his government to punish the perpetrators and remove the blot. He said Sikhs want accountability and punishment and not “crocodile tears”.