Sonia Gandhi accepts Kamal Nath's resignation...

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Published on: 16 Jun 2016 6:12 AM GMT
Sonia Gandhi accepts Kamal Naths resignation...
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New Delhi: Congress president Sonia Gandhi accepted AICC general secretary Kamal Nath’s resignation from the post of in-charge of Punjab affairs.

Nath has resigned from his post, on Wednesday, after a huge controversy over his role in anti-sikh riots of 1984 had erupted on Sunday. His appointment as general secretary in charge of Punjab was made on Sunday last which immediately met with protests in Punjab.

What Nath wrote in his resignation letter:

  • In his resignation letter, he had written to Sonia Gandhi requesting to relieve him of Punjab charge to ensure attention was not diverted from real issues.
  • “I have been hurt by the developments in the past few days wherein unnecessary controversy has been created around the ’84 (anti-Sikh) riots in Delhi. Till 2005 not single public statement or FIR was made against me and first time my name was mentioned in any forum was 21 yrs after 1984,” wrote Nath.
  • He added, “This canard is nothing but a cheap political ploy to gain traction ahead of the elections. I request, I may be relieved of my charge to ensure that attention isn’t diverted from the real issues facing Punjab.”

The controversy:

  • Kamal Nath was accused of being with the mob during the 1984 anti-Sikh riots.
  • For the first time, he was named in the case in 2005-- 21years after the riots, but, had been ‘fully absolved’ by the Nanavati Commission appointed by the previous NDA government to probe the riot.
  • Nath's naming as the general secretary in-charge of Punjab, had drawn sharp reactions from the Punjab's ruling Shiromani Akali Dal and the Aam Aadmi Party.
  • The two parties had resurrected allegations that he was involved in Delhi's anti-Sikh riots after former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi was assassinated on October 31, 1984.

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