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This is an archive article published on July 20, 2011

Was targeted for political reasons,Sajjan tells court

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.

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.

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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.

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