Factual errors in Captain Amarinder Singh’s 7-page resignation letter

Sanjeev Singh Bariana

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, November 3

In the seven-page resignation letter to Congress president Sonia Gandhi, former CM Capt Amarinder Singh, also a reputed military historian and author, got the facts regarding his own political history wrong.

Captain wrote, “When Operation Black Thunder took place in 1988 and our holy Golden Temple was once again assaulted, I as a matter of principle resigned from the then Surjit Singh Barnala government”.

Newspaper records show that Capt Amarinder had resigned as the Agriculture Minister in May 1986 along with Education Minister Sucha Singh Chhotepur. The Operation Black Thunder took place in April 1986 and later in May 1988.

Critics of the former CM point out that he has written that then Punjab legislator Tarlochan Singh Riyasti was killed in April 1984 as he was taking part in the negotiations with the Centre along with him to end the deadlock between the Centre and the Akali leadership. As per official records, Riyasti was assassinated much later in January 1988 along with his driver in Ludhiana.

Confirming the dates, a senior journalist and an authority on Punjab affairs, Jagtar Singh said, “Factually speaking, the dates mentioned in the letter of former Chief Minister Capt Amarinder are wrong. It is strange to see such errors in the communication of a reputed historian.” There was no response from the office of Capt Amarinder Singh despite repeated efforts.

Mix-up of dates

• As per Captain, he resigned from Cabinet when Operation Black Thunder took place in 1988
• Records show Captain resigned in May 1986 along with then minister Sucha Singh Chhotepur
• He wrote the then MLA Tarlochan Singh Riyasti was killed in April 1984
• As per records, Riyasti was assassinated much later in January 1988