1984 Anti-Sikh Riots

News India Xtra@newsIndiaxtra

BJP MP Tarun Chugh has criticised Sam Pitroda, chairman of the Indian Overseas Congress, over his remarks on the 1984 riots against Sikhs. Chugh accused him of trying to shield the Gandhi family and objected to his call to forget the violence, which took place 40 years ago.

The row follows Pitroda's defence of Sonia Gandhi's memoir, Belonging: A Journey of Love, which went on sale on Tuesday. He called it a personal account rather than a political document, and denied that it whitewashes the 1984 riots, the Emergency and the Babri Masjid demolition.

News India Xtra@newsIndiaxtra

BJP leader HS Phoolka has disputed Sonia Gandhi's account of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots in her memoir, Belonging: A Journey of Love. He says her claim that troops were sent in on October 31 is false.

Phoolka cited the Misra Commission, which he said found the Army was called only on November 1 and reached Delhi a day later. The commission also noted that 5,000 soldiers in Delhi were not deployed, and that 2,000 Sikh lives could have been saved.

He also doubts the memoir's depiction of Indira Gandhi's emotional reaction to Operation Blue Star, and plans to check the book for discrepancies.