New Delhi: Has the Congress been trapped in the Aam Aadmi Party’s game of reviving the 1984 anti-Sikh riots by questioning the appointment of Kamal Nath as AICC general secretary ahead of the Punjab Assembly polls?
The Congress on Monday said this was “political opportunism” and rejected the AAP’s allegation against Mr Nath. The anti-Sikh riots have been the pet issue of the Congress’ opponents in the Punjab Assembly polls and general elections.
The Congress says the bringing up of the issue this time is the work of a “perverse mind” (of the AAP) and that there is “no question of the Congress buckling under pressure”.
The AAP, which sees good prospects for itself in the Punjab polls, is keeping the pot boiling because it realises its fight will be with the Congress as the ruling SAD-BJP faces strong anti-incumbency.
Senior AICC spokesperson Anand Sharma on Monday rejected the AAP’s allegation that Mr Nath played a role in the anti-Sikh riots and advised the Arvind Kejriwal-led party to examine the inquiry commission’s report on the riots.
Responding to questions on the “growing anger” against Mr Nath’s appointment in Punjab, he said there was no allegation against Mr Nath.
“Where is the growing anger? Which is the measuring meter of that anger? Phoolka (Delhi High Court senior advocate Harvinder Singh Phoolka), Kejriwal and he are pure political opportunists.
“This is how you measure public anger. Public anger is artificially created. It is a nefarious agenda. It is a perverse mindset and it is unfair targeting of my colleague, and the Congress party rejects it,” he said. “There is no question of the Congress ever buckling under pressure,” Mr Sharma added.
