Kamal Nath's resignation has been accepted by Congress President Sonia Gandhi.
Highlights
- Kamal Nath as in-charge of Punjab drew sharp reactions from SAD, AAP
- Cheap political ploy to gain traction ahead of elections: Kamal Nath
- Elections in Punjab will take place next year
Senior Congress leader Kamal Nath has stepped down from the post of the general secretary in-charge of the coming elections in Punjab following a controversy over his alleged role in the 1984 Sikh riots.
In a letter to party president Sonia Gandhi today, which has been accepted, Mr Nath said he had been "hurt by developments in the past few days, where unnecessary controversy has been created around 1984 riots".
Mr 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.
In his letter, Mr Nath said the first time he was named in the case was in 2005 -- 21years after the riots. He said he had been "fully absolved" by the Nanavati Commission appointed by the previous NDA government to probe the riot. Even during a debate on the matter in Parliament, he had not been named by Akali leader Sukhbir Badal.
"This canard is nothing but a cheap political ploy to gain traction ahead of the elections," he said.
Punjab Congress chief Amarinder Singh had also said Akali, AAP charges were made with elections in mind, producing photographs of Mr Nath with AAP leader Kumar Vishwas and Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal.
He said the Congress had twice swept assembly elections in Delhi when Mr Nath was in-charge. "When Delhi Sikhs didn't object, why are political parties objecting here?" he said.
Immediately after Mr Nath's resignation, senior AAP leader HS Phoolka tweeted:
The Congress sees a chance of making a comeback in Punjab after 10 years of Akali rule. The Aam Aadmi Party, which had won four seats in Punjab in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, is out to seize the opportunity as well, turning the traditional direct fight between the Congress and the Akali Dal, into a three-cornered contest.
Full text of Kamal Nath's letter to Sonia Gandhi