Time to ‘forgive’ and build a new India, Chidambaram tells Sikhs

[Kronus]

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Time to ‘forgive’ and build a new India, Chidambaram tells Sikhs

Seeking to put behind memories of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, Home Minister P. Chidambaram today said the country has moved on since the “tragic incident” and that it was time to “forgive” and build a new India.

“It is time that we move on to build a new India where every citizen irrespective of faith has equal place,” he said, addressing a function to felicitate him for his role in removing names of 142 Sikhs from a ‘Black list’.

Recalling the tragic incidents in 1984 after the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi was shot dead by her Sikh bodyguards, Chidambaram said the country has moved on since then and one small step of removing names of large number Sikhs from the ‘Black list’ was left which has been addressed to by the government recently.

“We have moved on when Rajiv Gandhi was the Prime Minister, we have moved on subsequently, we have moved on when Manmohan Singh made that poignant speech asking for forgiveness, we moved on since Sonia Gandhi became Congress president,” he said.

The Home Minister was referring to Singh’s speech in Parliament in 2005 where he apologised to the Sikh community for the incident.

“One small step had remained and that is to remove the names of large number of names from what is called Black List.

I am happy that I played a small and humble part in removing 142 names from the Black List,” the Home Minister said.

In a significant decision, the government had removed from its “blacklist” the names of 142 wanted terrorists and their associates, including the heads of various Sikh extremist groups.

Noting that government was would initiate all possible steps to address grievances of the Sikh community, Chidambaram said government would issue orders “shortly” to help the Sikhs who have returned from Afghanistan following violence in the neighbouring country.

“For a Sikh living anywhere in the world, India is the homeland, India is the home. Therefore whenever any Sikh from anywhere in the world returns to his home, we have a duty to welcome him to India,” the Home Minister said.

Thousands of Sikh families have come to India from Afghanistan since violence erupted in early 1980s. The Kendriya Guru Singh Sabha (KGSS), which organised today’s function, requested Chidambaram to look into their grievances as these families are living as refugees they are facing lot of problems.

He said the issue of Sikhs who have come to India from Afghanistan is being addressed to orders are being issued to help them.

Referring to Sikhs’ complaint that they face difficulties in getting visa to visit Nankana Sahib, he said the issue is also being addressed to.

“I know that sometimes there are difficulties in getting visa. This issue is also being addressed to,” he said.

Showering praise on the Sikh community for their contribution towards the nation, he assured the gathering of all support to the community by the government.

“We hold the community in high esteem...We stand by every community, every minority community, every disadvantaged person and we promise equal place and equal rights,” he said.

The KGSS presented a memorandum to the Home Minister with nine demands including early payment of remaining compensation to victims of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots.

Addressing the gathering, Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit thanked Mr. Chidambaram for his role in removing names of 142 persons from the ‘blacklist’

“The matter was pending for so many years. The government has accepted the demand (for removal of the names from the blacklist). We thank you (Mr. Chidambaram). He is courageous,” said Ms. Dikshit.

[JanjaWeed]

that's really kind of you, dear minister! while we are on this 'truth & reconciliation' mood.. let's not be 'SELECTIVE' on it!!

[4Aces]

I see guynextdoor has Thanked the post! I guess that means he should stop crying about Gujarat & forgive what happened & praise the good work going on there!

[xXX-Nair:::Saab-XXx]

However i support it ... what ever Riots or Genocide had Happen to any religious Group of this Country lets Forget it & have a new start ...lets Increase the Relation between religious groups... every one got there share of wounds lets Bury all the Issues for ever...

[JanjaWeed]

I see guynextdoor has Thanked the post! I guess that means he should stop crying about Gujarat & forgive what happened & praise the good work going on there!

Original Post By 4Aces

common sense would say.. let's forgive, forget & move on! but Congress would only stick to that when it comes to carnage conducted under their supervision! They will never let Gujarat incident go by! Afterall they have nothing else to cling on to when it comes to NM! they are sliding towards oblivion in that state & Gujarat incident is merely a straw!!

[jagjitnatt]

Its easy for Congress to say that because the men responsible for the riots which resulted in death of thousands of sikhs, are still free and are members of Congress. Tytler will die of natural death in a cozy bed at home, and hundreds of people hoping to get justice even 27 years after the incident are going to die hungry, since all of their resources have gone into the cases and lawyers, and to top it all the inflation is touching the skies.

Its hopeless. At least the guilty should be punished. If Jarnail Singh Bhindrawala was assassinated, so should be Tytler.

[satya]

i was not born at that time and i dont know exactly all what happened to them,but we cant do anything more than say sorry and compensate them

[Sanjeeb Bose]

Its easy for Congress to say that because the men responsible for the riots which resulted in death of thousands of sikhs, are still free and are members of Congress. Tytler will die of natural death in a cozy bed at home, and hundreds of people hoping to get justice even 27 years after the incident are going to die hungry, since all of their resources have gone into the cases and lawyers, and to top it all the inflation is touching the skies.

Its hopeless. At least the guilty should be punished. If Jarnail Singh Bhindrawala was assassinated, so should be Tytler.

Original Post By jagjitnatt

Actually one of the militant groups were taking out such peoples involved directly in 1984 killings... Maken was one of them, if I am not wrong... It is pity Tytler was not one of them. He deserves a death of a mad dog.

[abirbec04]

Its easy for Congress to say that because the men responsible for the riots which resulted in death of thousands of sikhs, are still free and are members of Congress. Tytler will die of natural death in a cozy bed at home, and hundreds of people hoping to get justice even 27 years after the incident are going to die hungry, since all of their resources have gone into the cases and lawyers, and to top it all the inflation is touching the skies.

Its hopeless. At least the guilty should be punished. If Jarnail Singh Bhindrawala was assassinated, so should be Tytler.

Original Post By jagjitnatt

Its not Hopeless Jagjitt. Remember always, "God sees the truth but waits" (Leo Tolstoy).

The Sikhs have done this country proud. They didn't deserve this. No one can predict the future. I sincerely hope that Jagdish Tytler will meet the end he deserves.

[Mr.Ryu]

WTF every one involved must be punished for the 1984, after all our SIKH brothers have done a great deal in saving India in border, Its we who have to stand by them but till this cong is there we cant bring them to book, cong really talking like a bunch of fools lately,

Then will they let go NM govt too if found guilty in Gujarat ??? even there we have to oppose

[Karthic Sri]

I agree with this formula for "forgive and move on".

Does this formula apply for Babri Masjid and Gujrat also ?

[@speaks]

Few valid questions raised by some blogger here please check:
Apply Gujarat riot case principle to Sikh riots case: PIL in SC – India – The Times of India « Quick Take – As It Happens



I would like to mention clearly that i dont have any intentions to hurt anyone's ideology and i assume all of us out here are sane and apolitical persons without "wings".

[@speaks]

US saw Cong hand in anti-Sikh riots, reveal Wiki leaks - Times Of India

[@speaks]

I agree with this formula for "forgive and move on".

Does this formula apply for Babri Masjid and Gujrat also ?

Original Post By Karthic Sri

I have one better formula, just invite all the politicians with even a single blot on their character in parliament then seal the doors from outside and fill the parliament with Zyklon B
Zyklon B - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[DaRk KnIght]

^^^^We are living in a democratic Country and these leaders are democratically elected.