'You should be ashamed': Rahul Gandhi hits out at Sam Pitroda for remarks on 1984 riots

"You should be ashamed", Congress President Rahul Gandhi said on Monday as he hit out at party leader Sam Pitroda over his comments on the 1984 anti-Sikh riots. The Congress chief also said that Pitroda must apologise to the nation. 

 

Sam Pitroda had sparked a controversy by his 'hua-toh-hua’ statement on 1984 anti-Sikh riots. Pitroda, a close aide of Rahul Gandhi and Overseas Congress' head made the remark in response to a question on the riots by a newsman in Dharamshala in Himachal Pradesh. Pitroda had apologised for his recent remarks about 1984 anti-Sikh riots and said that his "misrepresented" remarks were intended just to be about "moving on". 

 

The Congress chief was addressing an election rally in favour of party candidate Amar Singh, who is pitted against SAD nominee D S Guru from Fatehgarh Sahib (reserve) constituency.

 

"What Sam Pitroda said about 1984 (anti-Sikh riots) was totally wrong and he should seek an apology from the country. I am saying this publicly and I also said the same to him over phone. Pitroda ji, what you had said was completely wrong and you should be ashamed of yourself. You should seek public apology," he said winding up his speech here.

 

Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh was also present at the event.

 

The BJP has stepped up offensive against the Congress over the Indian Overseas Congress chief's remarks as the 1984 anti-Sikh riots is an emotive issue in Punjab which is going to polls on May 19.

 

During campaigning in Rohtak in Haryana and at Hoshiarpur in Punjab, Modi on Friday had hit out at the Congress, saying Pitroda's remarks reflected the "character and arrogance" of the opposition party.

 

On Sunday in Amritsar, BJP chief Amit Shah had asked Gandhi whether the matter has ended with Pitroda tendering an apology for "justifying" the Sikh genocide.