Sam Pitroda's remark on 1984 anti-Sikh riots not acceptable, culprits must be punished: Amarinder Singh

Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Friday disapproved of Congress leader Sam Pitroda's reported remark on the anti-Sikh riots, saying that government must find out how the massacre happened and who were responsibe for it. 

He, however, also drew a comparison with the Godhra massacre, which took place under Modi was Gujarat Chief Minister.

“I have said it already, I don't accept that statement. 1984 riot victims are yet to get justice and saying ‘jo hua so hua’ will be like rubbing salt on their wounds. Tomorrow, you will say the same for Godhra victims,” he said.

“Not Congress, but a few people are responsible for the 1984 riots and they include some people from Congress and RSS and BJP too,” he added.

"It's duty of the successive governments to find out how it happened, who all were responsible, it must be found, doesn't matter how many years have passed," the Punjab CM said. 

He said since the riots had happened, he had been saying that he had heard accusations about the involvement of Sajjan Kumar, H.K.L. Bhagat, Dharam Das Shastri, Lalit Maken and Arjun Das, and, till date, he stands by his statement.

However, he asserted the involvement of some individuals linked to the Congress did not mean Modi could try to implicate Rajiv Gandhi or the Congress party in the riots.

Pitroda, a close aide of Rahul Gandhi and Overseas Congress' head had on Thursday reportedly said, "So what, it happened" about the 1984 anti-Sikh riots.

The "hua toh hua" remarks kicked up a storm with Prime Minister Narendra Modi target the Congress, saying this "shows character and mentality" of the party.

Addressing a poll rally on the last day of campaigning for the sixth phase, PM Modi said his government has led the country on path of progress and cautioned people to beware of Congress and its allies.

"How Congress ran this country for 70 years, how their mind works, how they are filled with arrogance, they themselves yesterday summed this up in three words," he said. 

"Congress, which ruled for maximum period, has been so much insensitive and that is reflected by the three words spoken yesterday. These words have not been spoken just like that, these words are the character, mentality and intentions of the Congress. And which were these words, these were 'hua to hua'," he added. 

With the ruling party attacking the Congress, the Grand Old Party distanced itself from Pitroda's remark. 

""We continue to support the quest for justice for 1984 riot victims. Any opinion remark made by any individual to the contrary including Sam Pitroda is not the opinion of Congress party," the grand old party said in a statement," the party said.