Making a distinction between 2002 and 1984 riots, BJP leader Sudhanshu Mittal today suggested that the responses post the acts of violence had much to do with the "political strength" wielded by the respective communities.
He wondered why an SIT was not formed immediately after the 1984 anti-sikh riots like the apex court monitored probe team for the 2002 Gujarat riots.
The BJP spokesperson said that difficulties emerge when "two sets" of rule are applied. "The entire environment gets vitiated when voice of sanity is selectively expressed."
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"What's the reason that SIT could be formed to probe 2002 but not 1984? What's the reason that 2002 can be discussed in the court for 1056 days but 1984 can't be deliberated upon? Was the cruelty less? I think much has got to do with the political strength a community holds.
"There's not much difference this community (Sikhs) could bring in deciding winners or losers in an election. The legal process and the judiciary remained mute spectators for 31 long years," he said.
The BJP-ruled Centre set up an SIT earlier this year for conducting a fresh probe into all cases relating to the riots in Delhi and some other states.
Mittal was speaking at the launch of 'Sikhs-The Untold Agony of 1984' authored by Nilanjan Mukhopadhyay. Former Congress MP Sandeep Dikshit was also present on the occasion.
Asked whether it was still possible to deliver justice to the victims of the pogrom, that saw the killing of more than 3,000 people across the country, Dikshit replied in the negative. "I don't think so."
"If we actually start confronting people who were not just directly responsible but also those who were partly responsible for acts of ommission and commission then it will start becoming increasingly very difficult for those in power to start dealing with that.
"The entire government machinery is at work to suppress these issues because the rot goes deep...Justice is not possible at the broader level. Because protection of those who are part of acts of ommission has been institutionalised," Dikshit, former East Delhi legislator, said.
Mittal also stressed on the need for looking into the period that preceded the '84 riots and the social relations of members of the Sikh community with others.
"Along with police and the polity, people are equally culpable for what transpired. Where did basic human sympathy go then? The trust deficit and prevalent hate need to be looked at," Mittal said.
