Revoke visas of Cong suspects in 1984 riots, Akalis urge US

NEW DELHI, Mar 25 (UNI): The US should revoke visas of Congress politicians accused of involvement in the 1984 riots, using the same approach as it did in Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi's case, the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) said today.

"Washington has cited a law banning foreign officials deemed responsible for severe violation of religious freedom.

This law should also apply to certain ruling Congress politicians blamed for the killing of thousands of Sikhs in the aftermath of the assassination of then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi," SAD Secretary-General Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa told UNI.

The US has reaffirmed its decision to revoke Modi's visa despite strong protests by New Delhi and the BJP.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has called the US move insensitive, but US Ambassador David C Mulford said Modi as the head of the state government of Gujarat between February and May 2002 "was responsible for the performance of the state institutions at that time".

The Akalis, part of the Opposition National Democratic Alliance (NDA), accuse the Congress administration of turning a blind eye to the anti-Sikh riots in 1984.

"Unfortunately, the people who have faced trials for the 1984 massacre are occupying key positions in the Congress government today.

The US should apply the same approach towards them also," Dhindsa said.