Return Sikh Granths seized during Operation Blue Star: BJP

BJP today demanded that the Sikh Granths seized during Operation Blue Star be returned to the community and the victims of 1984 anti-Sikh riots be given justice without further delay.

"Return the Sikh Granths and religious manuscripts to us. Why are you insulting them? Return them if you want to give back honour to the Sikhs," senior party leader SS Ahluwalia said in the Rajya Sabha participating in the discussion on a calling attention notice. He said that in the operation in 1984, the army took away the manuscripts and Granths as if they were literature associated with the Khalistan issue.

"You have not given us even the seizure list of what was taken away then," he added. Ahluwalia said Sikhs are not craving for compensation but they want to live with dignity. He said just because a Sikh has become prime minister does not mean all Sikhs have been given the right to live with dignity.

He, however, had a word of praise for Manmohan Singh stating that he has become prime minister not because of being a Sikh but because of his merit.

The BJP member said while several Congress leaders went around apologising for the demolition of Babri mosque, no one from the party had a word of regret on 1984 riots. "Did you ever say sorry for 1984 Sikh riots... you failed to fulfil your constitutional obligations," he said.