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POLITICS ANTI-SIKH RIOTS

• Arresting revolt The arrests of
the activists were made over a public
meet held in Pune on Dec 31, 2017 he Congress RAHUL GANDHI OPENS ‘MEMORY
President, Rahul
Gandhi, was
country expressing their out- visiting Europe BOX’ OF 1984 ANTI-SIKH RIOTS
rage over the emerging anti- T and addressing
democratic atmosphere in the UK-based parliamentarians
country. The arrested activists and local leaders when he In the recent visit to London, Congress President Rahul Gandhi surprised
were attacked by trolls by us- said that “the Congress was everyone when he disagreed that his party was involved in the 1984
ing hashtags like “UrbanNax- not involved in the 1984 Sikh
als”, which were vehemently riots”. In the same breath, he anti-Sikh riots. It appears that Congress is making attempts to rise from
criticised by people from all said, “anti-Sikhs riots were the ‘riot tag’? SARRAH analyses
walks of life. The rightwing a tragedy and a painful ex-
he arrest of five trolls were responded with perience. Any violence done names of top leaders of the
rights activists ARRESTED ACTIVISTS RECEIVE hashtags like #MeTooUrban- against anybody is wrong... Congress party — HKL Bha-
across the country Naxal and netizens were open anything done that was gat, Sajjan Kumar, Jagdish
in connection with WIDESPREAD SUPPORT in expressing solidarity with wrong during that period Tytler and Dharam Shashtri.
T the Bhima-Kore- the human rights activists. The should be punished and he The CBI report has observed,
gaon violence has stirred a The simultaneous arrest of rights activists across the hashtag #MeTooUrbanNaxal would support that 100 per “There was a conspiracy of
hornet’s nest. The sudden and became number 1 trend on cent.” terrifying proportion with
bizarre raids by the Pune po- country on August 28 has stunned the nation; civil twitter, with the increasing Back in India, senior the complicity of police and
lice on August 28 at the homes society describes the current atmosphere as being of number of people coming BJP leaders were quick to patronage of local MP Sajjan
of left-wing activists and the out in support of the arrested hit back. However, it was Kumar who instigated to the
subsequent arrest of the activ- fear and coercion. The activists receive widespread activists. Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) mob that “not a single Sikh
ists has invited widespread support, YOUNIS DAR writes The Opposition parties, leadership’s question which should survive.”
criticism, with some labeling it especially Congress, came raised many eyebrows Tytler’s name appeared in
as an ‘undeclared emergency.’ tory. This year, on 1st January, bring down the government. out in the support of the ar- in Punjab. SAD President the report of Nanavati Com-
The arrested activists in Dalits across the country had Sources say the arrests have rested human rights activists, Sukhbir Singh Badal had mission which said that he
question include a poet, a assembled in huge numbers also have been done regard- questioning the motive of the asked Gandhi, if Congress had a hand in the attacks.
management professor, a in Koregaon to celebrate the ing a letter that threatened of Maharashtra government in was not involved in the The 1984 riots were
business journalist and well 200th anniversary of a defin- assassinating Narendra Modi, such actions. The Gandhi scion riots then why did former the most tragic incident
known lawyers. The police had ing moment in their history. but the search warrants and while on Kerala visit talked of Prime Minister Manmohan in the Indian history after
arrested Sudha Bharadwaj, However, there were groups witness documents suggested ‘undemocratic’ ‘certain’ ac- Singh apologised? Though partition and the Congress
Gautam Navlakha, Arun Fer- who were unhappy with this that the raids were in relation tions, apparently referring to Rahul’s purpose may be to cannot wipe its hands of
reira, Vernon Gonsalves and growing unity and celebration to Bhima-Koregaon violence. the arbitrary arrests and raids absolve Congress of the 1984 the genocide of Sikhs. Like
P Varavara Rao, and it is on a of Dalit stature. Consequently, In retaliation to the move, across the country. Bollywood riots tag, the ploy have only and clarified that as “the inci- • Image making Rahul Gandhi is Manmohan Singh, Rahul
look out for 10 more people. they tried to stir and provoke five eminent people recently stars, activists, journalists and revived the memories of the dent took place at the time trying hard to revive pary’s image Gandhi should have shown
The arrests have been the situation, which resulted moved the Supreme Court intelligentsia from across the gory incidents and reminded of assassination of Indira the magnanimity of asking
made in relation to the Elgar in violence at the scene. questioning the rationale of spectrum have vehemently the Sikhs of the unhealed Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi the community for forgive-
Parishad, a public meeting Prominent Dalit leader the arrests. The petitioners condemned the arrests as be- wounds. was in Calcutta, so, there was system. ness. That is what differenti-
held in Pune on December 31, Prakash Ambedkar, the alleged the move was an at- ing an ‘attack’ on democratic If that was not enough, no involvement of Congress At a time when the ates a statesman from a run
2017, a day before the violence grandson of BR Ambedkar, tempt to silence dissent. The values and an ‘undeclared days later, Punjab Chief Min- except for some people. ” country is preparing for the of the mill politician. That is
at Koregaon Bhima. While had named Sambhaji Bhide SC issued a notice to the Maha- Emergency’ of our times. ister Capt. Amarinder Singh “Those people I have been biggest of all battles, General what differentiates between
the Supreme Court has given and Milind Ekbote, the known rashtra government directing Some referred to the arrests as named few senior Congress naming for the last 34 years. Elections 2019, is it wise to a seasoned, measured
them relief by ordering only promoters of Hindutva and that the arrested activists be being a ploy to divert atten- leaders being involved in I have named Sajjan Kumar, raise the issue of Sikh riots? politician from a novice.
house arrests for them, the popular leaders in Maharash- kept under house arrest till tion from the demonetization 1984 riots where over 3,000 Dharam Das Shastri, Arjun The reference to 1984 riots Seeking forgiveness requires
activists have been charged tra. He blamed these two men further hearing on September failures. Sikhs were massacred. Singh Das, Bhagat and one more is always sensitive. The two admission of guilt without
under different sections of the for conspiring and orchestrat- 6. The court said that “dissent The people have been alleged that at least four person. I got those names leaders have resurrected any excuses and willingness
draconian Unlawful Activities ing the violence at Koregaon is the safety valve of democra- expressing fears of a changing Congress leaders may have when I had travelled to the a ghost, an apparition of to repair the damage already
(Prevention) Act (UAPA). on January 1 this year. There cy” and that “if it is not allowed, political environment which been involved in the 1984 refugee camps on my own. It 1984 riots and reminded the done. The big question is will
On January 1, 1818, the Ma- has hardly been any action on the pressure cooker will burst.” doesn’t go in sync with our riots at their own volition. was not a party matter, it was Sikh’s bruised psyche of the Congress and its leadership
har soldiers of the East Indian the firebrand Hindutva lead- The court gave relief to the cherished democratic values Singh made this statement individuals who did it and tragedy. The Sikh communi- rise from this tag and show
Company, led by the British, ers from the government, the activists, while questioning the and puts a question mark on on the floor of the Punjab they are being tried.” ty has neither forgotten nor magnanimity or will con-
had defeated the massive police instead arrested the hu- motive of the simultaneous the intentions of the incum- State Assembly. Sadly, even after 34 years forgiven the genocide of this tinue playing street politics
Peshwa army in Koregaon. The man rights activists, accusing arrests. bent government. However, the Punjab of riots and Operation Blue magnitude after partition. to its own peril?
Dalits regard the moment as a them of being part of the Elgar The social media too was Chief Minister backed out Star episode, the memo- Various commissions of
legendary stature in their his- Parishad and conspiring to abuzz with citizens across the LETTERS@TEHELKA.COM from his earlier statement ries continue to haunt the enquiry have mentioned LETTERS@TEHELKA.COM

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