“Choosing November 1st by the Congress to oppose SIR raises serious questions – Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini”

Haryana Chief Minister Mr. Nayab Singh Saini launched a sharp attack on Congress, saying that while Congress had 365 days in the year to hold a rally opposing the Special Investigation Region (SIR), choosing November 1st as the date raises serious questions.

He stated that in a democracy, every party has the right to express its views, and we respect that right. However, why did Congress specifically choose this date? November 1, 1984, is the exact date when the horrific wave of anti-Sikh violence began in Delhi. Thousands of Sikh families lost their loved ones, and that pain remains alive in their hearts even today. Dates are not recorded merely on calendars; they are etched into the nation’s memory. Why choose the very day associated with the most painful memory of the Sikh community? On a day when the Sikh community bows its head to remember its martyrs, will Congress set up a stage and chant slogans? If this is a coincidence, Congress should say so openly and show sensitivity toward the feelings of the Sikh community. If it is not a coincidence, it becomes an even more serious issue. In either scenario, accountability lies with Congress.

The Chief Minister said that November 1st is a day of mourning and remembrance for the Sikh community. If an attempt is made on that day to overshadow those memories with political slogans and clamor, questions are bound to arise. Our feelings toward the victims of 1984 are not rooted in politics, but in empathy and duty. Standing with the victims is not a favor; it is our moral responsibility (Dharm).

The Chief Minister added that under the leadership of Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi, a Special Investigation Team (SIT) was formed in 2015, paving the way to reopen closed 1984 cases. As part of this process, Congress leader Sajjan Kumar was sentenced to life imprisonment. He remarked that only when files closed for years were opened did the hope for justice grow stronger for the victims.

He further mentioned that the opening of the Kartarpur Sahib Corridor fulfilled the decades-old prayers of the Sangat. To honor the unparalleled sacrifice of the Sahibzadas at the national level, December 26 was declared ‘Veer Baal Diwas’. Additionally, under the Seva Bhoj Yojana, a mechanism was set up to reimburse GST levied on langar at Gurudwaras. These steps reflect respect for the faith, service, and tradition of sacrifice of the Sikh community.

The Chief Minister noted that the 1984 violence had left deep scars in Haryana as well. In the state, 121 people lost their lives, while 20 Gurudwaras, 221 houses, 154 shops, and 57 factories were burnt down. No measure can fully compensate for the losses suffered by these families; however, recognizing its responsibility toward them, the government decided in the Legislative Assembly that members of these 121 families will be given government jobs so they can move forward with dignity.

He emphasized that it is the government’s duty to show sensitivity toward families that had to wait decades for their rights and justice. Understanding the pain of the Sikh community and respecting its history and sacrifices is essential.

Reacting to Sardar Trilochan Singh’s statement, the Chief Minister noted that he is a leader who had contested elections on a Congress ticket. His public statement regarding being sent with weapons for booth capturing raises serious questions. The Congress leadership must clarify its stance on this statement and inform the country whether it accepts or rejects the statement made by its own leader.

The Chief Minister concluded that this is not merely an allegation made by an opposition party, but a public admission by a leader formerly associated with Congress. In a democracy, political parties have a duty to answer such grave questions. Rather than offering excuses, Congress must clarify its position on what its leader stated.