Delhi Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa on Tuesday, 10 November 2026, launched a sharp attack on Congress Parliamentary Party Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, directly rejecting her account of the 1984 anti-Sikh violence as presented in her memoir 'Belonging: A Journey of Love'. Sirsa held the late former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi personally responsible for the massacre and alleged that Congress leaders accused of involvement in the violence were subsequently rewarded with political posts.

Sirsa's Rebuttal of Sonia Gandhi's Memoir

Reacting to the memoir's release, Sirsa directly challenged Sonia Gandhi's portrayal of Rajiv Gandhi as deeply saddened by the anti-Sikh violence. 'Sonia Gandhi's statement that Rajiv Gandhi was deeply saddened and distressed after the 1984 anti-Sikh massacre is false. She may be making these claims out of a sense of moral responsibility as his wife, but Rajiv Gandhi was responsible for what happened,' Sirsa said.

The Delhi Minister pointed to Rajiv Gandhi's widely cited remark at the Boat Club in New Delhi following the assassination of Indira Gandhi on 31 October 1984 — 'When a big tree falls, the earth shakes' — alleging it amounted to a justification of the subsequent violence.

Allegations of Political Rewards for Accused Leaders

Sirsa further alleged that rather than being held accountable, Congress figures accused of roles in the violence were elevated to positions of power. 'Sonia Gandhi is talking about shedding tears, but the truth is Rajiv Gandhi rewarded the people who massacred Sikhs. He awarded them seats in his Cabinet and positions of Chief Ministers in his government,' he said.

Sirsa named Kamal Nath, Sajjan Kumar, H.K.L. Bhagat, and Dharam Dass Shastri by name, alleging they gained political power despite accusations linked to the 1984 violence. These are allegations that have been the subject of ongoing legal proceedings and political disputes for decades.

Attack on Indira Gandhi and Operation at the Golden Temple

Sirsa also rejected accounts suggesting Indira Gandhi had expressed grief after the military operation at Sri Darbar Sahib — commonly known as the Golden Temple — in Amritsar in June 1984. 'She did not have any sorrow; rather, it was a structured, planned attack,' he alleged.

He further accused the Gandhi family of disrespecting Sikh religious institutions. 'Indira Gandhi disregarded the Sri Akal Takht, insulted it, and led a shootout at Sri Darbar Sahib. They also shot at the Guru Granth Sahib,' Sirsa said. He added: 'The Gandhi family committed the eternal sin of attacking the Guru Granth Sahib. Their false tears are not going to make up for the atrocities they committed on the Sikh community. They have the blood of thousands on their hands.'

Background: The 1984 Anti-Sikh Violence

The 1984 anti-Sikh violence erupted across several parts of India — most severely in Delhi — following the assassination of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi by her Sikh bodyguards on 31 October 1984. Thousands of Sikhs were killed in the attacks. The alleged role of political leaders and officials has remained a subject of legal proceedings and political controversy for over four decades.

Sirsa dismissed the memoir as a 'false sense of responsibility which the Congress is fulfilling,' questioning the purpose of revisiting these events through a book. The Congress party has not issued an immediate response to Sirsa's remarks. The debate over accountability for the 1984 violence is expected to intensify as Sonia Gandhi's memoir draws further public attention.