Guwahati: A day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi attacked the Congress over its involvement in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi on Tuesday said there was a difference between those riots and the 2002 communal riots in Modi’s state Gujarat.
“The killing of then prime minister Indira Gandhi and subsequent anti-Sikh riots were condemnable. Similarly the Gujarat communal riots in 2002 are also condemnable. However, there is a difference between the two,” Gogoi said.
“Everyone doubted the involvement of the Gujarat government in the 2002 riots and later it was proved.
“Chargesheets have been filed against then Gujarat home minister Amit Shah for his involvement in the riots and another minister of the then Gujarat government Maya Kodnani was arrested for her involvement in the riots,” he said.
Gogoi added that the US had earlier refused to give visa to then chief minister Modi suspecting his involvement in the riots.
“On the other hand, there was no allegation against the Congress under the leadership of Rajiv Gandhi for their involvement in the anti-Sikh riots that took place in Delhi after the killing of Indira Gandhi.
“Rajiv Gandhi had called leaders of the Congress to his residence and appealed to them to help maintain law and order in their respective states on the day Indira Gandhi was killed,” Gogoi said.
After assuming the charge of prime minister, Rajiv Gandhi had also taken up special steps to contain the situation, he said.
Gogoi said there was an allegation that there were some BJP supporters among those involved in the anti-Sikh riots.
–IANS