Author: Shwetank Bhushan
Publication: Myind.net
Date: December 19, 2018
URL:      https://www.myind.net/Home/viewArticle/apart-from-sajjan-kumar-the-alleged-roles-of-these-congress-leaders-in-the-1984-sikh-pogrom-need-to-be-investigated

Congress leader Sajjan Kumar has been convicted by the Delhi High Court over his role in the deadly anti-Sikh pogrom of 1984, and has sentenced to life imprisonment. This is case of justice delayed by more than three decades. However, Sajjan Kumar is not the only politician responsible for the massacre of the Sikhs.

The following is the list of prominent politicians alleged to have led or incited mobs that massacred Sikhs. Many of these politicians also allegedly protected other criminals who killed and raped Sikhs and burnt down their houses and businesses.

SAJJAN KUMAR

“The way Sajjan Kumar burned alive thousands, he should face the same fate. Thoda sukoon mila hai”: Bibi Jagdish Kaur, wife, and mother of the men burnt alive that day.

Sajjan Kumar enjoyed 'political patronage', 'large-scale efforts' to protect him': said Delhi High Court in its verdict. A testimony of the direct involvement of the Congress leadership.

HKL BHAGAT, Former Minister of state (Information and Broadcasting).

A strong Indira Gandhi loyalist was known as the uncrowned King of East Delhi in the 1980s. During the “84′ Sikh Genocide”, HKL Bhagat allegedly led murderous mobs killing and looting Sikhs in Delhi. He was indicted by the Nanavati Commission for his involvement in the 1984 anti-Sikh pogrom. Victims testified that Bhagat led groups of armed attackers and incited them. He personally went to Shahdara Thana, Gandhi Nagar Police station to get the miscreants released. One witness Satnami Bai saw Bhagat inciting a mob. Other witnesses have recorded how Bhagat sought to force witnesses not to name him during the investigation.

India's laggard justice delivery system ensured that the cases against Bhagat could not reach their legal conclusion. He hardly suffered the consequences of rioting. The government ultimately declined to prosecute Bhagat because of his poor health by that time. He died in October 2005.

JAGDISH TYTLER, Minister of State for Overseas Indian Affairs

Tytler, a former MP from Congress is accused of killing three Sikhs outside Gurudwara Pulbangash in Delhi himself. Surinder Singh, the head Granthi of Gurudwara said in a sworn affidavit in January 2002 that Tytler a local MP led the mob that had attacked his Gurudwara.

Tytler had once infamously stated that he was being vilified for a "small number" of Sikh deaths. Tytler also admitted that Rajiv Gandhi and he had taken several rounds of north Delhi to assess the situation.

The official report of the Nanavati Commission found 'credible evidence' against Tytler, saying he 'very probably' had a hand in organizing the attacks. The UPA government led by Congress, however, decided not to prosecute him.

LALIT MAKEN, Cong. (I) Trade Union Leader and Metropolitan Councilor.

Member of Parliament, Lalit Maken was an aspiring youth leader of Congress party with close connections to the Gandhi Family. He reportedly distributed the mobsters with Rs.100 notes plus bottles of liquor. A white Ambassador car reportedly belonging to him came four times to the GT Road area near Azadpur. Instructions to mobs indulging in arson were given from inside the car.

Maken was gunned down by Harjinder Singh Jinda, Sukhdev Singh Sukha and Ranjit Singh Gill for his involvement in 1984 pogrom on 31 July 1985. Maken's wife Geetanjali and a visitor, Balkishan, were also caught in the firing, and all the three died on the spot.

KAMAL NATH, Member of Parliament

A confidante of Sanjay Gandhi during the 1970s, Nath probably carried on with his belligerent streak even after the death of his friend. Kamal Nath’s role in the 1984 pogrom is yet to be fully explored and according to those who have witnessed it, deserves a closer examination.

A senior journalist Sanjay Suri who was working with a leading newspaper claimed to have seen Kamal Nath on November 1, 1984, controlling the rioting mob at the Gurudwara Rakabganj Sahib, which is right next to Parliament.

Under instructions of Kamal Nath, Policemen present at the scene instead of preventing the attack joined the attackers and fired several rounds at the Gurudwara Sahib. Kamal Nath was present when the bodies of the two men were burning. Police Commissioner Gautam Kaul also verified Kamal Nath’s presence while the Sikhs were burnt alive. The Nanavati Commission gave him “benefit of the doubt in the “absence of better evidence.”

Before last Punjab assembly election, Kamal Nath had to resign as the Congress party’s Punjab in-charge following objections over his alleged role in the 1984 violence in Delhi. Yesterday, he was sworn in as Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh.

ARJUN DAS, Member of the Delhi Metropolitan Council

Arjun Das, a Congress-I party activist who was one of the prime accused in the genocide of Sikhs in 1984. Arjun Das was seen leading the mobs outside the All-India Medical Institute when the first violence against Sikhs broke out. He was also accused of attacking the cavalcade of President Giani Zail Singh when he visited All India Medical Institute.

Three gunmen assassinated Arjan Das, who was a family friend of Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. The politician's police bodyguard was also slain. After he learned of the killings, the then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi went immediately to the hospital and met with the Das family. Das was a member and former president of the Delhi Flying Club. Das also took private flying lessons with Rajiv Gandhi who was an Indian Airlines pilot before entering politics and also a member of the club.

BHAJAN LAL, Chief Minister, Haryana

Haryana Chief Minister and Congress leader BhajanLal incited the killing of Sikhs and organized the attacks on Sikhs in Haryana during November 1984.

As per reports, he sent the police recruits from Madhubani to kill Sikhs. These recruits were then taken to Sikh localities by Haryana Roadways buses and were supplied the equal size of Iron rods and the creamy fuel which is often used by the cooks to warm food dishes, it was to rub on bodies of Sikhs and set on fire. Once it’s ignited, it can’t be fused. In clashes with Sikhs, some of these recruits too lost their lives but their dead bodies were frisked away by their colleagues as the instructions were to not leave any clue behind.

DHARAMDAS SHASHTRI, Congress (I) MP from Karol Bagh

Dharam Das Shastri was Member Parliament from Karol Bagh. During the “84′ Sikh Genocide”, he is alleged to have provided the list of Sikh houses and shops with the electoral roll as the source.

According to press reports, he along with other Congress leaders tried to pressurize the SHO of Karol Bagh Police Station to release from custody those arrested for the anti-Sikh violence and looting property.

ARUN NEHRU, Member of Parliament

A close associate of Rajiv Gandhi and former MP Arun Nehru had granted approval for the massacre of Sikhs in Delhi. The whole operation was directed by Arun Nehru who usurped the functions of the home minister and ensured that 6000 Sikh policemen were disarmed and sent home from active duty in the afternoon of October 31, 1984.

He was later rewarded as Minister Of Internal security and was largely responsible for draconian laws implemented in Punjab.

RAJIV GANDHI, Prime Minister

Shortly after Rajiv Gandhi was sworn in, senior advocate and opposition leader, Ram Jethmalani, met Home Minister, P.V. Narasimha Rao and urged him to take immediate steps to save Sikhs from further attacks. Rajiv Gandhi did not even take calls from the President when he tried to get in touch with him to discuss the situation. However, it was alleged that Rajiv Gandhi deliberately delayed in calling in the Army, a move which many believe could have saved the lives of many.

Senior advocate and AAP leader H S Phoolka who has been representing the riots victims in various courts for over last three decades, also demanded an investigation to find out if Rajiv Gandhi had any direct role in the 1984 anti-Sikh pogrom after the assassination of his mother and then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.

This demand came after Congress leader Jagdish Tytler has said that Rajiv Gandhi drove a car and took him and a security guard to various places in north and west Delhi on November 1, 1984.

What was more shocking was the fact that PM Rajiv Gandhi went as far as to justify the pogrom. Who can forget his insensitive remark, “जब बड़ा पेड़ गिरता है, तो धरती हिलती है"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jatme-4ects

There were countless other Congress leaders who were directly involved in the 1984 Sikh genocide. The ruling Congress Party pressurized and threatened all eyewitness. Some perpetrators were later convicted and sentenced, some got the benefit of the doubt for lack of credible evidence.

The Congress party may have averted a political crisis by winning 3 state elections, but the Gandhi family legacy, which ruled over countless dead bodies of innocent Hindus, Muslims and Sikhs will continue to pay for its sins.