Sam Pitroda says sorry for 1984 remark as Congress distances itself from it

“What I meant was move on. We have other issues to discuss as to what BJP government did and what it delivered. I feel sorry that my remark was misrepresented, I apologise. This has been blown out of proportion," media reports quoted Pitroda as saying.

“The statement I made was completely twisted, taken out of context because my Hindi isn’t good, what I meant was ‘jo hua vo bura hua,’ I couldn’t translate ‘bura’ in my mind,” he said.

Earlier on Friday, the Congress said it has strived to ensure justice for 1984 riot victims and any opinion remark made by any individual to the contrary including Sam Pitroda is not the opinion of the party.

It also advised all leaders to be careful and sensitive in their statements.

Attacking the BJP for raking up the issue of 1984 Sikh riots keeping in view the coming elections in Delhi, AICC spokesperson Randeep Surjewala termed it as a 'Machiavellian game of deception, distraction and distortion by Mr Narendra Modi'.

In a statement issued here, Mr Surjewala said that while the BJP has decided to field a candidate charged with terror crimes, being lauded as its face by none less than Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself, the grand old party has shown the moral and political courage to punish people and leaders accused of violence/role in 1984.

"Violence and riots are unacceptable and unpardonable in our society. Indian National Congress and its leadership have strived to ensure justice for 1984 riot victims. We continue to support the quest for justice and stern punishment for those found guilty in 1984 riots as also the subsequent acts of violence including the 2002 Gujarat riots. Any opinion remark made by any individual to the contrary including Mr Sam Pitroda is not the opinion of the Congress party. We advise all leaders to be careful and sensitive," the Congress leader said.

"Congress party believes that justice should be done to 1984 riots victims as also to 2002 Gujarat riots victims. We abhor violence of any kind, against any person or a group of people based on their caste, colour, region or religion. This is the essence of India," Mr Surjewala said.

"Lastly, unlike the BJP, which has decided to field a candidate charged with terror crimes and is being lauded as its face by none less than Mr Narendra Modi himself, Congress party has shown the moral and political courage to punish people and leaders accused of violence/role in 1984. This is the yardstick of self imposed accountability and sense of justice to people followed by the Congress party, unlike the BJP," he said.

On the BJP raking up the issue of 1984 Sikh riots ahead of the coming elections in Delhi, Mr Surjewala said, "May I also add that for BJP, riots are vote garnering exercise in every election, instead of ensuring justice and closure. People should see through this Machiavellian game of deception, distraction and distortion by Mr Narendra Modi."

The statement came after Sam Pitroda stirred a controversy on Thursday with his comments on the 1984 anti-Sikh riots.

The Indian Overseas Congress chief later said BJP was twisting his words to "hide" their own failures and said the late Rajiv Gandhi would never target a group of people based on creed.

Image credit: Sam Pitroda page on Facebook