ROLE OF KAMAL NATH IN NOVEMBER 1984 GENOCIDE OF SIKHS IN INDIA

On November 1, 1984 one day after the killing of the then Prime Minister of India, Indra Gandhi, a mob of over 4000 people attacked Gurudwara Rakab Ganj Sahib, New Delhi. Several Sikhs were burnt alive in this attack and the Gurudwara building was set on fire. This mob was led by then Member Parliament and senior Congress Leader Kamal Nath, the present Union Cabinet Minister of Road Transport and Highways for India. Police was present at the scene of occurrence at all times but instead of preventing the attack, the police upon Congress leader Kamal Nath's instructions joined the attackers and fired several rounds at the Gurudwara. The police did not take the Sikhs who were burnt alive by the mob to the hospital and the Sikhs died due to lack of medical assistance.

Prominent Journalist Sanjay Suri, and two persons Mukhtiar Singh and Ajit Singh who resided within Gurudwara Rakab Ganj Sahib and were present in the Gurudwara when the Gurudwara was attacked, gave affidavits and testified before the Justice Nanavati Inquiry Commission (set up by the Government of India to enquire into the killings of Sikhs in November 1984), that Congress leader Kamal Nath was seen leading the mob. Mukhtiar Singh and Ajit Singh testified that Kamal Nath was instigating the mob that attacked the Gurudwara and burnt the Sikhs alive.

Kamal Nath was summoned by the Justice Nanavati Commission because of clear evidence present against him. Kamal Nath did not deny his presence at the scene of occurrence because of the overwhelming evidence. In his affidavit before the Commission, Kamal Nath cooked the story that in the afternoon of November 1, 1984, on receiving information that some violence was taking place in and around Gurudwara Rakab Ganj Sahib, he as a senior and responsible leader of the Congress Party decided to go there. When he reached there, he found that lots of people were standing outside the Gurudwara and para military personnel were also present. He tried to find out from various persons in the mob as to why they had gathered there and why they were agitated. He was told that some Hindu men and women were kept inside the Gurudwara forcibly and that was the main reason why they were agitated. By that time the Commissioner of Police came there. He felt satisfied that police would be able to control the situation, so he left that place. He has further stated that while he was near the Gurudwara he had tried to persuade the crowd to disperse and not to take law into their hands. He had also told the crowd that since the police had arrived, it was their job to ensure safety of the Hindus, if any, inside the Gurudwara and that the police would be able to control the situation.

The Nanavati Commission after reviewing the evidence made a finding that the reply filed by Kamal Nath was "vague" and "little strange'. The Commission found that the evidence disclosed that Kamal Nath was seen in the mob at about 2.00 p.m. and situation there had remained very tense till 3.30 pm. The Police Commissioner had reached that place at about 3.30 p.m when Kamal Nath states to have left. So Kamal Nath was there for quite a long time. The Commission observed that Kamal Nath did not state that he looked for the police or tried to contact the policemen who were posted there for ensuring that the situation remained under control. He stated that he left that place after the Commissioner of Police arrived but did not state that he met him. The Commission observed that Kamal Nath was a senior political leader and feeling concerned about the law and order situation went to the Gurudwara and therefore it appears little strange that he left that place abruptly without even contacting the police officers who had come there.

The Commission further found the statement of Additional Commissioner of police, Gautam Kaul who supported the story of Kamal Nath to be inconsistent with other evidence.