In a candid response at a recent Q&A session at Brown University in the US, Rahul Gandhi admitted to Congress's mistakes during the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, despite not being present at the time. The Congress leader’s acknowledgment came after a Sikh man confronted him on his earlier statement regarding the BJP’s handling of religious freedom, particularly Sikhs.

Gandhi, while admitting to the party’s past errors, expressed his willingness to take responsibility for "everything the Congress party has ever done wrong in its history." The Congress leader stated that the tragic events of 1984, which led to the deaths of thousands of Sikhs, were a mistake, and emphasized his personal commitment to the Sikh community, mentioning his frequent visits to the Golden Temple and his good relationships with Sikhs in India.

The confrontation at the Watson Institute for International and Public Affairs, which took place two weeks ago, went viral on social media. The Sikh man had specifically raised concerns about the Congress party’s handling of the 1984 riots and questioned the party’s protection of leaders like Sajjan Kumar, who was recently sentenced to life imprisonment for his role in the killings. The man’s question pointed out that while the Congress party had failed to hold certain individuals accountable, they continued to shield leaders with alleged ties to the riots.

Gandhi responded by acknowledging the mistakes made by the Congress during that time but also highlighted his role as a younger member of the party, stating that he was not involved in the events. His response seemed to suggest a distinction between the actions of the party at the time and his current stance, which was met with mixed reactions. He further emphasized that India should be a place where all people, regardless of their religion, could express their beliefs freely.

BJP’s IT cell chief, Amit Malviya, quickly reacted to Gandhi’s comments, accusing him of avoiding accountability and of using the occasion as a political pretense. Malviya criticized Gandhi for his previous remarks about religious freedom in India, claiming they created unnecessary fear among Sikhs regarding their religious rights under the BJP rule.

Delhi Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa also weighed in, accusing Gandhi of evading the truth and protecting culprits like Jagdish Tytler and Kamal Nath, whose alleged involvement in the 1984 riots has been a contentious issue. Sirsa stated that Gandhi's apology was not sincere, labeling it as a “political pretense.”

The Congress party’s response has sparked further debate about the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, with many questioning the party’s past actions and its current handling of the issue. While Gandhi has acknowledged the party’s mistakes, the calls for action against the party leaders involved in the violence remain loud and unresolved.

The 1984 anti-Sikh riots were a direct response to the assassination of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi by her Sikh bodyguards, an event that sparked violent reprisals against Sikhs, particularly in Delhi and Kanpur. Thousands of Sikhs were killed, and their properties were destroyed in one of the darkest chapters of post-independence India. Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had offered an apology in 2013, a sentiment echoed by Sonia Gandhi, and more recently, by Rahul Gandhi.

This conversation at Brown University comes in the backdrop of ongoing political discourse in India, where religious freedom and the protection of minority rights continue to be hotly debated. The incident has reignited conversations about accountability, justice for the victims of the 1984 riots, and the political responsibilities of the Congress party.

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