Amarinder,Charak differ on Bhullar,1984 riots issues

He was addressing the media at the residence of Malerkotla MLA Razia Sultana.

Also found to be toeing Union Home Minister P Chidambaram’s line on the 1984 anti-Sikh riots,he added that it was time to move on by forgetting the black chapter of the riots. Amarinder,however,during a press conference in Jalandhar a couple of days ago was reported to have disagreed with Chidambaram and stated that 1984 riots cannot be forgotten.

“Yes,I stand by what I said. The law of the land should take its own course in Bhullar case,” Charak said,when contacted over phone. No leniency should be shown after bypassing the law,he added.

“The riots are a black chapter that needs to be closed. I understand that wounds are deep and need healing. But at the same time,it is not good to refresh the wounds for some vested interests,” Charak said,adding that the the issue had more become a tool to extract political mileage.

Asked to comment on Amarinder’s stance,Charak said that Amarinder had not issued any statement in this regard. “I do not know in what context he said that. As far as I know,whatever he has been attributed to was said was in response to some question asked by the media,” said the Punjab affairs in-charge of Congress.

While the 1984 anti-Sikh riots had always been a poll issue in Punjab,the Bhullar case is also turning out to be a major issue in the ensuing Punjab polls. As far as SGPC elections are concerned,Congress will not contest polls but extend its tactical support to the anti-Badal faction.

Meanwhile,Charak,accompanied by Razia Sultana and Inder Singh Hooda — brother of Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda — visited Bishangarh village in Sangrur district to inaugurate development work including a water treatment plant. The project worth Rs 2 crore is being funded by NRI Gurminder Singh Thind.