NEW DELHI: ON the second day of the Delhi Assembly session, the members of the legislative passed a resolution proposed by MLA Jarnail Singh, which states that former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi’s Bharat Ratna honour be taken back by the Centre for his inefficiency in controlling the Sikh riots.
Further, the motion from the MLA stated “special fast track courts be set-up for quick and time bound trials in all the pending 1984 riots cases, since 34 long and painful years have already elapsed, during which many victims have already passed away and the remaining witnesses are already in advanced stages of their lives.”
Sikh MLA Jagdeep Singh from Hari Nagar while speaking on 1984 riots even questioned the Supreme Court in the matter, “This 34 year delay in justice even raises questions on the Supreme Court, what was it doing for so many years? They (SC) suo moto pick cases of so called public interest from Uttar Pradesh and discuss them, they did not see what happened here, right under their nose in Delhi.” The members said the Delhi government should impress upon the MHA to classify anti-Sikh riots as ‘genocide’.
“For three days this genocide happened on the roads of the National Capital killing thousands of Sikhs but the then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi tried to justify it, the honour of Bharat Ratna should be taken back by such a person,” added Jarnail in his resolution which was adopted by the house.
The controversial resolution later divided many party MLAs, who on Twitter expressed their opinion.
Somnath Bharti said it was on his persuasion that Jarnail Singh mentioned about Rajiv Gandhi, while Alka Lamba stated that when the resolution was being passed she walked out of the house in disagreement and is ready for any kind of punishment party deems fit for her. Lamba claimed party had asked her to resign as MLA. “I am ready to do so”, the MLA said.Congress party condemned the resolution and termed AAP as “B party of BJP.”