Phoolka seeks return of Bharat Ratna conferred on Rajiv Gandhi

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, November 22

Human rights activist and senior lawyer HS Phoolka reiterated that former Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh should not give a clean chit to the alleged masterminds of the 1984 Delhi Sikh riots to regain the post of the state Congress president. He also demanded that Bharat Ratna bestowed on former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi should be taken back.

In a press conference here today, Phoolka said Captain Amarinder Singh should take note of news regarding Delhi Sikh riots and reports of various commissions and committees, which had probed the matter.

Phoolka said statements giving clean chit to Jagdish Tytler and Kamal Nath from a leader of the stature of Captain Amarinder Singh gave a wrong impression to the world. He said, “People believe that if a leader of his stature is speaking something it might be true. But Captain should not do it merely to become the president of the state Congress.”

Ideally, Captain should have apologised for giving a clean chit to Tytler and Kamal Nath as his irresponsible statements were against the interests of the community in particular and humanity in general.

He added that there was no truth in allegations of him being trying to get close to the BJP. He said he held both former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi and present Prime Minister Narendra Modi responsible for murder of thousands of innocent people.

Phoolka said, “In my entire career, I have been a part of any political organisation for once only and that party is AAP. I was an AAP activist and will remain so.” He added that, moreover, discussing his affiliation to a political party was immaterial as he was speaking about facts.