1984 Anti-Sikh Riots: Amit Shah Accuses Congress Of Hurting Sikh Sentiments Over November 1 Rally

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday accused Congress of sponsoring the 1984 anti-Sikh riots and alleged that Rahul Gandhi was hurting survivors’ sentiments by holding the INDIA bloc’s ‘Dilli Chalo’ rally at Delhi’s Ramlila Maidan on November 1.

Addressing a public gathering at Tiranga Park in Chandigarh, Shah recalled the violence in which thousands of Sikhs were killed, families displaced and children orphaned. He referred to former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi’s remark, ‘when a big tree falls, the earth shakes’, and criticised Congress leaders for making such a statement about the tragedy.

Shah said the Narendra Modi government reopened riot-related cases, granted victims financial assistance of ₹5 lakh each and sent prominent Congress leaders implicated in the violence to jail. He said the BJP had urged Congress to avoid holding its rally on November 1, 2 or 3, as these dates marked the anniversary of the riots. Congress, however, refused to change its programme.

The Home Minister alleged that foreign instructions influenced the decision to schedule the rally on November 1.

Shah said traders had repeatedly requested a postponement because the Diwali season generates substantial business. He cited an estimated ₹25,000 crore in trade during the three to four days and warned that unsold festive stock could cause losses.

The Minister highlighted the government’s decisions on Article 370, triple talaq and efforts to eliminate Naxalism.

Shah reiterated the target of making India, including Punjab, drug-free by December 31, 2029.

Earlier, Shah inaugurated and laid foundation stones for development and infrastructure projects worth ₹258 crore in Chandigarh.

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