New Delhi: The comments made by former prime minister Manmohan Singh that the anti-Sikh riots of 1984 could have been prevented by then Home Minister PV Narasimha Rao have triggered a controversy.
Singh made the comments at an event in Delhi on Wednesday to commemorate the 100th birth anniversary of late prime minister IK Gujral.
The anti-Sikh riots in Delhi had erupted shortly after then prime minister Indira Gandhi was shot and killed by her Sikh bodyguards on October 31, 1984. Nearly 3,000 people, mostly Sikhs, were killed in the riots.
Speaking to ETV Bharat on this, senior lawyer of Supreme Court HS Phoolka said that Dr Manmohan Singh is absolutely correct.
"The Mishra Commission appointed in 1985 said that the massacre could have been avoided had army been deployed. Although the statement of Dr Singh will not have much impact on ongoing cases in the court but will strengthen the fact that the government did not act on time and it was state-sponsored genocide," said Phoolka.
Phoolka claimed calling in the Army on the morning of November 1 itself could have saved 2,000 lives.
It is to be noted that Phoolka has fought for justice for the victims of the anti-Sikh riots.
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