THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Inviting sharp reactions from Congress, Kerala CM V S Achuthanandan has alleged that former PM Rajiv Gandhi led the massacre of Sikhs in Delhi in the aftermath of Indira Gandhi's assassination.
The CM made the controversial remarks while inaugurating a CPM office in Alappuzha on Saturday. On July 2, the CM had faced protests by Congress MLAs after he invoked Rajiv Gandhi in place of his brother Sanjay during a debate in the Kerala assembly on the high court order banning wayside public meetings in the state.
Replying to charges that CPM was exceeding the limits with its attack against the judiciary, the CM referred the days of Emergency and reminded Congress not to forget that goons of Rajiv Gandhi had then attacked Justice V R Krishna Iyer. Later, he clarified that he had meant Sanjay Gandhi and not Rajiv.
On Saturday, The CM sought to take on the Opposition again over the issue in the assembly and claimed that Rajiv Gandhi was no better than Sanjay and cited the anti-Sikh riots and the Bhopal gas disaster. "Even according to Arjun Singh, Rajiv Gandhi was responsible for allowing Union Carbide chief Warren Andersen to flee from the country,'' he alleged.
His remarks drew protests from the Congress leadership in the state. Leader of Opposition in the Kerala assembly Oommenn Chandy said the charges were serious and unfounded. He said VS had proved that he wasn't fit to continue as CM. State Congress chief Ramesh Chennithala demanded that VS withdraw his remarks and tender apology.
VS links Rajiv to Sikh riots, Anderson escape - India - The Times of India
The CM made the controversial remarks while inaugurating a CPM office in Alappuzha on Saturday. On July 2, the CM had faced protests by Congress MLAs after he invoked Rajiv Gandhi in place of his brother Sanjay during a debate in the Kerala assembly on the high court order banning wayside public meetings in the state.
Replying to charges that CPM was exceeding the limits with its attack against the judiciary, the CM referred the days of Emergency and reminded Congress not to forget that goons of Rajiv Gandhi had then attacked Justice V R Krishna Iyer. Later, he clarified that he had meant Sanjay Gandhi and not Rajiv.
On Saturday, The CM sought to take on the Opposition again over the issue in the assembly and claimed that Rajiv Gandhi was no better than Sanjay and cited the anti-Sikh riots and the Bhopal gas disaster. "Even according to Arjun Singh, Rajiv Gandhi was responsible for allowing Union Carbide chief Warren Andersen to flee from the country,'' he alleged.
His remarks drew protests from the Congress leadership in the state. Leader of Opposition in the Kerala assembly Oommenn Chandy said the charges were serious and unfounded. He said VS had proved that he wasn't fit to continue as CM. State Congress chief Ramesh Chennithala demanded that VS withdraw his remarks and tender apology.
VS links Rajiv to Sikh riots, Anderson escape - India - The Times of India
