1984 riots extremely sad, PM has apologised: Tewari

Amidst a controversy over Rahul Gandhi's remarks on 1984 anti-Sikh riots, government today sought to control damage as it said the episode was "extremely sad and unfortunate" and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has already apologised several times for it.

"As far as 1984 riots are concerned, these were extremely sad and unfortunate. The Prime Minister has apologised several times both in Parliament and outside it," Information and Broadcasting Minister Manish Tewari told reporters here.

Refusing to say anything further on this, he said the cases filed in connection with the riots are sub-judice.

However, the Congress leader added that "UPA government has always been sympathetic towards the victims."

His comments came amidst a raging controversy over Gandhi's remarks that some Congressmen may have probably been involved in the riots that followed the assassination of then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.

Gandhi had also said that the then Rajiv Gandhi government had tried to stop the riots.