Wrong to draw parallels between 1984 and Godhra riots: Badal

Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today said it was wrong to compare Godhra riots to 1984 "carnage", saying what happened in Gujarat was a result of clash between two communities while "carnage" of Sikhs was carried out by the then ruling Congress at the Centre.
"The unfortunate incident that took place in Godhra city of Gujarat was riot while the killings in 1984 was a carnage of the Sikhs undertaken at the behest of the then Congress government at the Centre," Badal told reporters on the sidelines of Sangat Darshan programme in Malout Assembly here.
Badal alleged that the Centre had "deliberately" allowed the killings of Sikhs to take place by becoming a "mute spectator".

He claimed that even several inquiries have time and again indicted the Congress leaders for their dubious role.
In an interview to a new channel, Rahul Gandhi had said, "The fact of the matter is that innocent people died in 1984 and innocent people dying is a horrible thing and should not happen."
Despite several proofs the "culprits" were still roaming free and instead of taking any action against them the Congress has been rewarding them with the coveted posts, the chief minister said.

The veteran Akali leader also expressed concern over the killings of Punjabi youth in various foreign countries like Philippines, saying that the Union government must take steps to safeguard the life and property of Punjabi youth settled abroad.

Earlier, addressing gatherings in various wards of the city, the chief minister categorically said that he was committed for ensuring the welfare of the residents of the state at any cost.
Badal said that there was no question of joining the national politics and he would continue to serve the residents of state in the future also.