NEW DELHI: Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal on Wednesday criticised the Congress over Sonia Gandhi’s remarks on Operation Blue Star, saying that she had given a “clean chit” to "the killers of thousands of innocent Sikhs."“Congress leaders in Punjab must break their silence over Sonia Gandhi’s clean chit to those responsible for the killing of thousands of innocent Sikhs in 1984,” the former Punjab deputy chief minister said in a post on X.Badal also claimed that Sonia Gandhi’s memoir, "Belonging: A Journey of Love," released in India on Tuesday, contained an “admission” that Rajiv Gandhi had “purposely and personally” decided against deploying Army units in Delhi because they included Sikh personnel.Also Read | Sonia Gandhi memoir: BJP's Phoolka questions Army timeline, Indira's tears on 1984 riots“This finally provides the clinching evidence of the Congress government’s patronage of the anti-Sikh massacre. The Congress government could send a Sikh general to lead Operation Blue Star at Sachkhand Sri Harmandir Sahib and Sri Akal Takht Sahib, but would not deploy Sikh Army personnel to protect innocent Sikhs in 1984?” he…
Badal attacks Punjab Cong leaders over Sonia's clean chit to 'killers of Sikhs'
In short
Badal questioned why military units containing Sikh personnel were withheld from Delhi during the 1984 riots, contrasting it with Lieutenant General Kuldeep Singh Brar commanding Operation Blue Star. He urged Punjab Congress leaders to break their silence and demand accountability from Sonia Gandhi. In the memoir, Gandhi explained that Indira Gandhi reluctantly sanctioned the Golden Temple military action following intelligence that Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale was on the verge of declaring an independent Khalistan.
Key points
- Sukhbir Singh Badal is pressing Punjab Congress leaders to publicly address Sonia Gandhi'…: Sukhbir Singh Badal is pressing Punjab Congress leaders to publicly address Sonia Gandhi's statements regarding the 1984 violence.
- Badal highlighted a contrast between withholding Sikh soldiers during the Delhi riots and…: Badal highlighted a contrast between withholding Sikh soldiers during the Delhi riots and deploying a Sikh commander for Operation Blue Star.
- Sonia Gandhi's memoir maintains that Indira Gandhi wept over lives lost during Operation…: Sonia Gandhi's memoir maintains that Indira Gandhi wept over lives lost during Operation Blue Star and had refused to dismiss her Sikh bodyguards.