‘Zail Singh wanted me to reach kin body to family’

‘‘The President told me that he was not in position to do anything and I should do this for him as a friend,’’ Khurana said at a press conference here today. ‘‘On the night of November 2, 1984, Gianiji called me on telephone and said that he was not talking to me as President but as a friend. He requested me to ensure that the body of one of his relatives who was killed in the riots be handed over to his wife.’’

‘‘I was shocked that even the President of the country at that time was not in a position to do anything,’’ said Khurana. ‘‘I immediately reached West Patel Nagar police station where the body of the President’s relative was lying. I urged the ASP to hand over the body to me. I told him President Giani Zail Singh wants this,’’ said Khurana. ‘‘The ASP only said to me, ‘I am sorry. I can not hand over to you the body’’’.

The ASP said he would arrange for the family to be present at the funeral. ‘‘The police officer fulfilled his promise and the person was cremated in the presence of a few close relatives,’’ said the former CM.