Sonia Gandhi regrets 1984 events
From Varinder Singh
Tribune News Service

AMRITSAR, Dec 28 — The Congress President, Mrs Sonia Gandhi, today expressed deep anguish and regret over the 1984 happenings, which she said should not have happened.

Mrs Gandhi, after a visit to the Golden Temple, in a statement said, “I have prayed at the shrine that such events must never happen again.”

“We are entering a new millennium. Let us do so in a spirit of forgiveness,” she added.

“I came here to renew my family’s cherished association with the brave Sikhs,” she said, expressing her gratitude to the Sikhs for giving her overwhelming response.

Earlier, during her first-ever visit to the Golden Temple, Mrs Gandhi was welcomed by the crowd with chants of “Bole so nihal, Sat Sri Akal.”

Mrs Gandhi, who was scheduled to reach the Golden Temple at 11.30 a.m., arrived at 1.50 p.m. Elaborate security arrangements were made by the authorities. At the main entrance, she was received by waiting party workers, who escorted her to the ‘parikrama’ and later to the ‘sanctum sanctorum’, where she stayed for over 10 minutes and listened to ‘kirtan’.

There was, however, no senior functionary of the SGPC present and she was not presented the customary ‘siropa’ (robe of honour).

There were reports that she was not allowed to pay obeisance at Akal Takht, but the SGPC authorities have denied it. They said “misinformation” was spread by “unscrupulous elements”.

“She did not go there as there was a big crowd,” said Dr Gurbachan Singh Bachan, the secretary of the SGPC. He said the SGPC task force had been deputed to ensure security to the visiting dignitary. Regarding the ‘siropa’ issue, he said the reason for the SGPC not offering a siropa to Mrs Gandhi was that it had been receiving countless letters from the ‘sangat’, arguing that she should not be honoured as “her hands had been smeared with blood”.

In a chat with reporters at the Jallianwala Bagh here, she said that alleged lapses committed by the government in tackling the hijacking crisis could be discussed after the release of the passengers. For the time being, the safety of the passengers and their release was of paramount importance, she said.

“I offered a silent prayer at the Harmandar Sahib before the Guru Granth Sahib for the hostages and their families and have asked the Almighty’s help for getting the passengers released from their captives”, she added.

While talking to newspersons, she did not say anything about Operation Bluestar and its aftermath. However, in a statement issued among reporters later on her behalf by Capt Amarinder Singh said, “I have already expressed deep anguish and regret for the events of 1984.”

Remembering Punjabis’ contribution to the freedom struggle and the country’s development, she said, “We are proud of Punjab, the land of sacrifices. I also pay my tributes to countless people who laid down their lives and in turn rejuvenated the war of freedom initiated by Indians under the leadership of Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru. We will stand guard at policies envisaged by our great leaders. In the same vein we have to launch a war against corruption, poverty and the Congress is committed for that and for the uplift of the poor,” she asserted. She said that the objective of the ‘sankalap’ rally, which she flagged off from Jallianwallah Bagh, was the same.

The ‘sankalap yatra’ will conclude at Raj Ghat in New Delhi on January 30, the death anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi.

Capt Amarinder Singh, the PPCC president, said Punjabis had been waiting for Mrs Gandhi for the past more one-and-a-half years and her visit has enthused them. “The country will develop only when you come to power,” he said. He also presented a ‘shawl’ to Mrs Gandhi.

Mr Raghunandan Lal Bhatia, a former Union Minister, said the Indian freedom struggle was virtually launched from the historic Jallianwalla Bagh and it was encouraging that Mrs Gandhi was launching the much-awaited struggle against corruption and nepotism from the same place.

Mrs Sonia Gandhi issued the following statement after her visit to the Golden Temple in Amritsar today.

Her signed statement was released to the Press by the PPCC President, Capt Amarinder Singh.

“I have been deeply moved by my visit to Sri Harmandar Sahib and to Durgiana Mandir.

“The peace and tranquillity of Sri Harmandar Sahib will always remain cherished in memory, as will be the overwhelming welcome given to me by the Sikh community, while I was there.

“I have come here once again to renew my family’s long cherished association with the brave Sikh community and Punjab.

“My visit to Jallianwala Bagh to the site of the one of the venues of great sacrifice during the freedom struggle has humbled me and has strengthened my resolve to fight for all that they stood for.

“I have earlier expressed my deep anguish and regrets for the events of 1984, which ought never to have happened. I have prayed at Sri Harmandar Sahib today that such events must never take place again.

“We are entering a new millennium. Let us do so in a spirit of forgiveness. I will also like to take this opportunity to wish all Punjabis a very happy new year. May Punjab have a long era of peace and prosperity in the new millennium”.