New Delhi, Oct 31 Union minister Hardeep Singh Puri on Saturday said INDIA bloc’s upcoming rally in Delhi is a “serious political mistake” and asked Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to “introspect”.
The stage is set for the INDIA bloc’s mega rally at Delhi’s Ramlila Maidan on Sunday, with opposition leaders and supporters from different states beginning to reach the national capital for a show of strength against alleged electoral irregularities and to demand the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
Addressing a press conference at his residence here, Puri recalled the anti-Sikh riots and said more than 3000 people had been killed in the violence following the assassination of then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi on October 31, 1984.
“These mass killings in Delhi continued from November 1 to November 4,” he said, suggesting that the opposition INDIA bloc rally could have been held after November 4.
Puri called the INDIA bloc’s Sunday rally as “completely insensitive to the mass atrocities committed 42 years ago”.
He noted that the trading community has also urged the Congress to reconsider the date of the rally in view of the festive season.
“Every political leader has a set of advisors. Rahul Gandhi should seriously introspect along with his advisors whether he wants to listen to the demands of the trading community or whatever,” the minister said
Speaking at the press conference, senior Supreme Court advocate and BJP leader H S Phoolka, best known for representing 1984 anti-Sikh riots victims in their quest for justice, also criticised the Congress for organising the rally on Sunday.
“November 1 is not only a black day for the Sikhs but the entire country. They (The Congress) should also observe it as a black day and hang their heads in shame,” Phoolka said.
Puri recalled the 1984 anti-Sikh riots and said the assassination of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi was “tragic” and it “deserves condemnation”.
“But for that you cannot hold an entire community and its innocent people responsible,” he added.
(PTI News)
