The missing file report related to constitution of the special investigation team (SIT) to probe the 1984 anti-Sikh carnage took a new turn with the Opposition accusing chief minister Arvind Kejriwal
The missing file report related to constitution of the special investigation team (SIT) to probe the 1984 anti-Sikh carnage took a new turn with the Opposition accusing chief minister Arvind Kejriwal of playing politics with the sentiments of the affected parties to gain “publicity” for the 2017 Punjab Assembly elections.
Hours after reports suggested that the file had gone missing from the AAP government’s home department since March 16, a senior AAP functionary claimed that the document had been traced. But the AAP government did not issue any written clarification on the matter. A highly-placed source said that the Kejriwal government was in the process of recreating the same file.
The AAP government landed in an embarrassing situation after deputy secretary (home) Ashish Kumar issued a circular to all the departments on January 8 requesting if they traced the file, the same should be returned to his department. He had specified that the file had been last marked to then home minister Jitender Singh Tomar, who is now out on bail in connection with his fake degree case. The circular had been issued with the prior approval of the competent authority.
The issue of the “missing file” surfaced at a time when the AAP is focusing on the 2017 Punjab Assembly elections, with chief minister Arvind Kejriwal canvassing for the polls.
Reacting to the issue of the missing file, Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee head Manjit Singh G.K. said that the AAP government circular clearly showed that Mr Kejriwal’s intentions towards the victims of the 1984 genocide were not good. He said that the CM needs to explain why he was not holding investigations into the 1984 massacre.
“The missing file issue clearly establishes that Mr Kejriwal is not committed to provide justice to the victims of the 1984 riots,” he said, adding, “Otherwise, this crucial document would not have gone missing and he is simply playing politics with our sentiments.”
Mr Singh, who is also head of the Delhi Akali Dal, said Mr Kejriwal had set up SIT during his 49-day rule, which was supported by the Congress. He alleged that the Congress that had not allowed a thorough probe into the massacre for about 30 years as its own leaders were involved in it. “It seems that the file has been deliberately misplaced to protect Congress leaders involved in the anti-Sikh carnage. A thorough probe by the CBI should be ordered to uncover the missing file mystery.”
BJP’s Sambit Patra said: ”It is absolutely shocking to know that the file is missing and no one cared where it was This is Arvind Kejriwal’s style of politics. He only announces and does nothing about it. He has no time for Delhi as he is busy with national and international events.”
Leader of the Opposition in Delhi Assembly Vijender Gupta went a step further and said the missing file issue has “proved beyond doubt that the AAP was hand-in-glove with the Congress.” He said: “Mr Kejriwal is more concerned about getting mileage out of it. The file has been missing for the last 10 months. But the Kejriwal government did not bother to locate it.”
BJP leader Nalin Kohli said questions were going to be asked as to why the file was allegedly missing. “Why has this happened during his (Mr Kejriwal’s) tenure I think in this case there should be specific answer and responsibility should be fixed.”
Local Congress leader Chatter Singh said that the “missing” file issue clearly demonstrates how serious Mr Kejriwal was towards solving the problems of the Sikh victims. “Either Mr Kejriwal or his home minister Satyendar Jain should resign. Or, they should act against Mr Tomar. Anyone responsible for this lapse, should be punished.”
Senior lawyer H.S. Phoolka said that the missing file related to 1984 riots SIT ordered by Mr Kejriwal during his 49-day government in 2014 and had no link with the current SIT set up by the Centre. He said that the previous SIT by the AAP government was never made functional and after Mr Kejriwal resigned, the lieutenant-governor did not constitute any SIT.
The SIT for re-investigation into the 1984 riot cases, mainly in Delhi and other states, was set up by the Union home ministry in February last year. The newly-constituted three-member SIT was also empowered to examine afresh evidence in cases that had been closed.
The SIT was given powers to look into all serious criminal cases relating to the riots, examine evidence and even re-open cases and file chargesheets in the courts concerned. A senior home ministry official had then said that the SIT had been given six months to complete its work, including filing of chargesheets in nearly three-decade-old cases.
The SIT, headed by Pramod Asthana, an IPS officer of 1986 batch, Rakesh Kapoor, a retired district and sessions judge and Kumar Gyanesh, additional deputy commissioner of the Delhi police as its members.
As the BJP-led NDA government’s move to set up a SIT into 1984 anti-Sikh riots was announced at a time when polls to the Delhi Assembly were to be held, the Aam Aadmi Party, which swept the elections, had termed it as a “poll gimmick” by the saffron brigade.
