Rahul Gandhi Acknowledges Congress’s Past Mistakes in 1984 Anti-Sikh Riots During U.S. Interaction

 New Delhi/Washington D.C. – Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, has acknowledged historical lapses by his party, including the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, stating he is willing to take moral responsibility for all wrongs committed by the Congress in its history.

Speaking at a public Q&A session at Brown University’s Watson Institute for International and Public Affairs in the United States, Gandhi was confronted by a Sikh attendee over his past remarks suggesting that religious expression could be stifled under the BJP regime. The man questioned whether such concerns were justified, citing the Congress Party’s own history — specifically the events of 1984 — and accused the party of failing to address past injustices.

“You create fear among Sikhs about what BJP would look like… But we want more than the right to wear kadas and turbans. We want freedom of expression — something that wasn’t safeguarded under Congress either,” the attendee said. He further referenced former Congress leader Sajjan Kumar, recently sentenced to life in prison for his role in the riots, and accused the party of continuing to shield individuals involved in the violence.

In his response, Gandhi reiterated his stance on religious freedom in contemporary India while acknowledging the Congress Party’s failures. “Many of the mistakes attributed to the Congress happened when I was not active in politics, but I am more than willing to take responsibility for everything the Congress has done wrong in its history,” he said. “What happened in the 1980s was wrong. I’ve said this publicly before. I’ve visited the Golden Temple several times and maintain deep, respectful relations with the Sikh community.”

The interaction, moderated by Ashutosh Varshney, Director of the Saxena Center for Contemporary South Asia at Brown University, was later posted online and has since gone viral across social media platforms.

BJP and Sikh Leaders React

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was swift in its response. BJP IT Cell chief Amit Malviya accused Gandhi of “fear-mongering” and noted that he was being “publicly rebuked, not just in India, but globally.”

Delhi Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa also criticized Gandhi’s remarks. “What Rahul Gandhi offered was not an apology but a political maneuver. The Sikh community’s pain is real — and his evasion shows the true face of the Congress,” Sirsa said.

BJP spokesperson RP Singh demanded immediate action from Gandhi if his remarks were sincere. “He must expel Jagdish Tytler and Kamal Nath from the Congress if he truly intends to take responsibility for the 1984 massacre,” Singh said.

Historical Context and Previous Apologies

The 1984 anti-Sikh riots broke out following the assassination of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi by her Sikh bodyguards. The violence claimed thousands of Sikh lives, predominantly in Delhi and other parts of northern India. The events were preceded by Operation Blue Star, during which the Indian Army entered the Golden Temple to flush out separatist militants, leading to the death of Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale and others.

In 2013, then Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh formally apologized in Parliament for the violence. Former Congress President Sonia Gandhi also expressed regret, followed by Rahul Gandhi, who had earlier stated that “some Congressmen were probably involved.”

Recent Remarks Resurface

The exchange at Brown University comes weeks after Gandhi stirred controversy in September 2024 during an event in Virginia, where he questioned whether Sikhs would be free to wear turbans or visit Gurdwaras under BJP rule. The remarks triggered strong reactions from BJP leaders and Sikh organizations alike, who pointed to Congress’s own track record on religious freedom.

As political fault lines continue to sharpen ahead of national elections, Gandhi’s comments have once again placed the Congress Party’s legacy under renewed scrutiny — both at home and abroad.