Congress targets BJP over SGPC's commemoration of death anniversaries of Indira Gandhi's assassins

The Congress on Sunday sought an explanation from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which is a part of the coalition government in Punjab, over the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee's contentious commemoration of death anniversaries of the assassins of former prime minister Indira Gandhi.

"The killers of former prime minister Indira Gandhi are to be eulogized on a special day observed. Even though the responsibility of managing Shrines and Gurudwaras is with the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), the SGPC is under the control of Akali-Dal and since there is the Akali-BJP government. What do they have to say?" asked AICC Communications Department in-charge Anand Sharma.

"Also what do they have to say about the killers of the former chief of Indian Army General Vaidya," he added while asserting that these are disturbing developments and would demoralize the armed forces.

The Congress leader, who also criticized the BJP over the release of separatist leader Masarat Alam, further said responsibility in coalition cannot be attributed to a single party.

The SGPC's Nanakshahi calendar features the anniversaries of assassins of Indira Gandhi and former Army chief Arun Vaidya as historical days.