Elections 2019: '1984 anti-Sikh riots happened, so what?' says Congress' Sam Pitroda; BJP demands apology

Lok Sabha Elections 2019: Sparking an intense row by his remark on 1984 riots, Congress leader Sam Pitroda reportedly said, "What is with 1984? Talk about what happened in five years. It happened in 1984, so what? (1984 hua toh hua)." Hitting out at the Indian Overseas Congress chief for his comment, the BJP on Thursday said this 'shocking' statement is completely unacceptable to the country and that Pitroda  must apologise for saying it. Union minister Prakash Javadekar said Pitroda's comments were shocking and nobody could have expected it. "He (Pitroda) said 1984 genocide happened. So what? This is completely unacceptable to the country and we cannot allow this to sustain," Javadekar said. Asked about the 1984 riots, Pitroda had reportedly said: "84 mein hua to hua." "Genocide was a gruesome thing that happened to India. At that time, (then prime minister) Rajiv Gandhi justified it by saying that when big tree fails, earth tremors," Javadekar said. "The science says exactly the opposite that when earth tremors, big tree falls. This is what the science is." The BJP leader accused the Congress of playing with public feelings. "Pitroda was Rajiv's colleague and Rahul's guru. If the guru is like this, how will the 'chela' (disciple) be? This is what is Congress doing... completely insensitive of public feelings." "They must apologise. We demand that Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi should apologise, not only to Sikhs but to the entire country as it is an offence unacceptable to the country," Javadekar added. Pitroda on Thursday also alleged that the BJP-led government at the Centre had failed on all sectors. He later challenged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to a debate with him as he is also a "Gujarati". Pitroda said an atmosphere had been created where people do not believe in facts, but "lies" that are being promoted on social media. "Modi has misused the public money on self-promotion and advertisement," Pitroda said, alleging that half of the budget of the Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao was spent on advertisement. "Come, debate on issues. Have a debate with (Congress chief) Rahul Gandhi and, if not him, then debate with me. I am also a Gujarati," Patroda told reporters. (With inputs from PTI)