Kamal Nath's appointment would 'rub salt into wounds' of Sikhs: AAP

NEW DELHI: Allegations of a role in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots returned to haunt Kamal Nath, who has been appointed as Congress general secretary in-charge of Punjab, with AAP using it to attack him, while the veteran MP dismissed it saying he was "absolved" of all charges by the Nanavati Inquiry Commission.

Citing documents, AAP leader and an advocate fighting for the victims of the 1984 riots, H S Phoolka, claimed that Nath was a part of the mob that attacked the Rakab Ganj Sahib Gurudwara in Delhi on November 1, 1984. Two Sikhs were also burnt to death in the attack.

"One Mukhtiar Singh, who is now the manager of Rakab Ganj Gurudwara, had filed an affidavit before the Nanavati Commission.

"He (Mukhtiar) states that Kamal Nath was a part of the mob that attacked Gurudwara Rakab Ganj on November 1, 1984. Kamal Nath too, in his affidavit before the Commission, accepts his presence on that day," Phoolka said, adding by appointing Nath as the Congress in-charge of Punjab, the party has tried "to rub salt into wounds" of the victims.

Hitting back, Nath dismissed as "very motivated" AAP's charge insisting that Nanavati Commission has "absolved" him of all charges.

"For 21 years, my name figured nowhere. There was no charge against me, no statement against me, no case against me. Nobody raised any voice in any manner about my participation in the riots," he told news channels.

Phoolka also said newspaper reports after the attack on the gurudwara suggested his presence there.

"...On November 2, 1984 a national daily reported that Kamal Nath was leading the mob which attacked Rakabganj Sahib. On November 3, another national daily reported the same," he said, adding through this appointment, Congress has conveyed that the party does not care about the sentiments of the victims.

"All that Congress cares is about the people having lots of money and muscle power," he said.

Nath said the AAP leaders were making the charge "out of ignorance".

"The Nanavati Commission's report is there on the Internet, free for anybody to read. And this was the Commission set up by the BJP government. The Akalis made no charges against me. This matter came up in Parliament on many occasions. They made no charge against me and now suddenly, this comes up so obviously this is very motivated," he said.

"I don't think AAP knows what they are talking about. Nobody has ever made a charge...I think it will be easily dealt with," he added.