On December 17, Delhi BJP leader Tajinder Pal Singh Bagga launched an indefinite hunger strike to protest against Kamal Nath’s appointment as Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, alleging that the Congress leader was involved in the 1984 anti-Sikh massacre. In an interview to Senior Correspondent Nishant Kr Azad, Organiser, the BJP leader talked about his demands and said that the Congress party had “hurt” the sentiments of the Sikh community by anointing him as Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh. Excerpts:
How do you see the judgment of the Delhi High Court on Congress leader Sajjan Kumar involvement in the 1984 Sikh Massacre?
This verdict has brought some relief, but we would be happier if the court had sentenced him (Sajjan Kumar) to death. The court acknowledged that he was actively participating in the killings of innocent Sikhs.
What are your demands?
The demand of my hunger strike is to replace Kamal Nath with someone else as Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh. I also demand a fast-track court be set up so that perpetrators like Jagdish Tytler and Kamal Nath tried and punished for what they had done to the innocent Sikhs.
Why do you think Sikh community had to wait 34 years for justice?
See, in the last 34 years, the Congress party ruled the country for over 25 years. Despite incontrovertible evidences given by the Mishra Committee against Kamal Nath’s involvement, and the statement by senior journalist Monish Sanjay Suri of Indian Express, where he explicitly said that he was an eyewitness to Kamal Nath’s involvement in the Sikh massacre, Kamal Nath is enjoying political support of the Gandhis and is still roaming free all over the country. The Congress provided patronage and later protected the perpetrators, the appointment of Kamal Nath further underscores the fact that Congress never wanted to give justice to the victims of 1984.
Do you think that the SIT on anti-Sikh riots formed by Modi Government has led to this conviction?
Yes, definitely. Last month, one of the two attackers convicted of killing two men during the 1984 anti-Sikh riots has been sentenced to death by Delhi court and the other convict will have to spend life in prison. The formation of SIT by Narendra Modi Government has revived the hopes of the 1984 victims that they will get justice. It is only because of SIT that the senior Congress leader is convicted. Otherwise, they were roaming freely all over the country under the ‘political patronage’ offered to them by the Gandhi family.
