‘I bow my head in shame over 1984…we can’t rewrite past…we (can) write a better future ’

Making a specific reference to the public statements of Opposition leaders that he should seek forgiveness of the country, Singh said: ‘‘I have no hesitation in apologising not only to the Sikh community but the whole nation because what took place in 1984 is the negation of the concept of nationhood and what’s enshrined in our Constitution.’’

‘‘So I am not standing on any false prestige. On behalf of our government, on behalf of the entire people of this country, I bow my head in shame that such a thing took place.’’

‘‘But, Sir, there are ebbs, there are tides in the affairs of the nation. The past is with us. We cannot rewrite the past. But as human beings, we have the will power and we have the ability to write a better future for all of us.’’

‘‘It is time for introspection so that ghastly incidents like the 1984 riots never take place in the country again,’’ said Singh, pleading with the Opposition, especially the Akali Dal, not to politicise the issue for partisan gain.

Pointing out that there were no Akali Dal members present in the House, Singh said he did not want to score any political points. ‘‘But it is also a fact that when that glorious chapter in the history of Punjab was being written, the Akali Dal was busy dividing the people of Punjab on communal lines.’’

He warned them not to drive a wedge between the Sikhs and the rest of the country and not to sow the seeds of discontent among the youths of Punjab.

The Prime Minister also took a dig at the BJP when he reminded its members in the House of the surprise nature of the appointment of the Nanavati Commission.

‘‘It was during Question Hour when some members raised the issue for a commission to probe the 1984 riots. Since it was a serious issue, I did not get up but later the then Home Minister L K Advani said I was not in favour of it. It was a total lie and I forced Advani to apologise in the House… However, we had no control on the setting up of Nanavati Commission, who will be the chairperson, or its terms of reference.’’

He said he was happy that the report contained ‘‘no allegations against the top leadership of the Congress party… It has been a lie used to poison the minds of Sikh youths.’’

‘‘While the past cannot be brought back and undone, it is time to find new pathways to ensure this does not happen again. To err is human, it is time to ask for forgiveness.’’

Like in the Lok Sabha yesterday, the Prime Minister promised that the government would reopen cases against those named in the Nanavati report and against whom adverse references have been made.

Singh recalled that he had accompanied Congress president Sonia Gandhi to the Golden Temple some five-six years ago where together they prayed ‘‘God, give us the strength, show us the way that such things never again take place in our country.’’

After the Prime Minister’s speech and Home Minister Shivraj Patil’s intervention, the House rejected the Opposition motion by a voice vote. Patil announced that two committees would be set up to ensure due compensation to 1he 1984 riot victims.

According to Patil, the committees would sort out all issues with regard to compensation ‘‘within 1-2 months’’. Admitting that compensation provided in some states was not adequate, he said the government, without any discrimination, would ensure that other victims got compensation on par with those in Delhi.

Rajnath: If a CM wants, he can stop riots

NEW DELHI: There was an uproar in Rajya Sabha after BJP’s Rajnath Singh remarked that riots can be checked within a few hours if the chief minister of a state is determined. This had ruling coalition members countering him, asking him why Narendra Modi failed to do that in Gujarat.

‘‘I have been chief minister of a state. And I can say that if a chief minister is determined, riots can be checked within four-to-eight hours,’’ Rajnath Singh said. Ignoring the uproar over his remark, he said it was not possible that a riot couldn’t be stopped by determined leaders.