1984 Anti-Sikh Pogrom NDA To Blame For Riot Taint: Sajjan Kumar

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NEW DELHI: On the second day of deposing before the court, senior Congress leader Sajjan Kumar continued to deny his alleged involvement in the killing of six men in the cantonment area here during the 1984 anti-Sikh riots and claimed that he was implicated in the case by the NDA government in 2000-01 to "malign" his party.

Deposing before additional sessions judge Sunita Gupta, Kumar said the Nanavati Commission, constituted to look into cases of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, was set up under pressure by the then NDA government at the Centre to "malign" the image of Congress by lodging a "politically motivated false" case.

"G T Nanavati Commission was set up in 2000. At that time, the NDA government was in power in coalition with Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD). In the cabinet, there were ministers from SAD which was in power in Punjab at that time. Under their pressure, Nanavati Commission was constituted," Kumar told the court.

http://articles.timesofindia.indiat...kumar-g-t-nanavati-commission-anti-sikh-riots

 

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Bckground


Was targeted for political reasons, Sajjan tells court

New Delhi Former Congress MP Sajjan Kumar, an accused in 1984 anti-Sikh riots case, alleged in a Karkardooma court on Tuesday that the Nanavati Commission was set up under political pressure for getting Sikh votes.

He also submitted documents to prove that since he donated blood and organised blood donation camps during the riots, he could not have incited the mob to kill Sikhs. Kumar was responding to questions posed by Additional Sessions Judge Sunita Gupta.

“The Nanavati Commission was set up in 2000. At that time, the NDA government was in power in coalition with the Shiromani Akali Dal, which was administrating Punjab back then... the Vidhan Sabha election was also about to be held in Punjab... therefore, to misguide the Sikh community and win over their sympathy, the commission was set up as a political move,” he said.

The one-member commission, headed by Justice G T Nanavati, had submitted its report in 2005.

The 63-year-old leader blamed the CBI for concealing crucial facts that eventually lead to the grant of sanction for his prosecution. “Material facts were suppressed by the CBI from the Lt-Governor of Delhi. The government had sought the opinion of the Director of Prosecution, who opined that no case is made out against me. The Law department also gave the same opinion. Had these facts been disclosed (to the Lt-Governor), the sanction would not have been granted,” he told the judge.

A case was filed against Kumar on the recommendation of the Justice Nanavati Commission. The CBI also accused him of inciting people to kill members of the Sikh community.

http://www.expressindia.com/latest-...-political-reasons-sajjan-tells-court/819747/