1984 riots guilty remain unpunished: Arun Jaitley

Amritsar: Raking up the issue of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, BJP leader Arun Jaitley on Monday alleged that those guilty for the "state sponsored" violence still remain unpunished.

Describing the "massacre" of innocent Sikhs after the assassination of the then prime minister Indira Gandhi as a "black spot" on the democracy, the BJP leader wrote in his blog, "The fact that the innocents can be killed in thousands is terrible. What is worse is that the guilty went unpunished".

He alleged that the "collusion" of the state was visible. None of the rioters were fired upon by the police, he added. "They were given a safe passage to loot and kill. For years, the FIRs were not registered. No arrests were made. The violence was politically rationalised by the then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi," he said.

The BJP leader further alleged that the Justice Ranganath Mishra's Commission, appointed by the Congress government, provided a cover up for the "state sponsored" violence. "After his retirement, this judge was rewarded with the Rajya Sabha nomination by the Congress Party," he said. He claimed that that it was only the NDA government who appointed Justice Nanavati Commission of Inquiry which came out with the truth. "Since then investigating agencies have tried to prosecute many of those involved in the riots," Jaitley added.

Jaitley, locked in a fierce battle against his Congress rival Amarinder Singh from Amritsar seat, slammed him for giving "clean chit" to Congress leader Jagdish Tytler, saying that it was for the investigation and judicial process to find out the truth. "Is he (Amarinder) trying to prejudge the guilt of a person who is perceived to be involved in the riots?" he questioned. "Is his personal and political relationship more important to Amarinder than the interest of the victims?" he further asked.

Jaitley clarified the allegation levelled against him by Amarinder in connection with the Bhopal gas tragedy, saying, "I have advised and appeared for thousands of clients as a part of my professional commitment. If persons or a company not involved in the tragedy, wanted to have the benefit of my advice, it is my professional ethics as a lawyer to give them the correct legal advice. This is what I have done."

The name of the lawyer who appeared against Bhopal gas victims is Abhishek Manu Singhvi, who is the chief spokesperson of Amarinder's political party, he said.