Rahul Gandhi says ‘ready to take responsibility’ for Congress mistakes, including 1984 riots

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said he is willing to take responsibility for every wrongdoing in the Congress Party’s history, including the 1984 anti-Sikh riots. His remarks came during a Q\&A session at the Watson Institute for International and Public Affairs at Brown University in the United States.

During the session, a Sikh student directly questioned Gandhi about the role of Congress in the 1984 riots following the assassination of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. Over 3,000 Sikhs were killed in Delhi and other cities during the violence, and several Congress leaders have long faced accusations of complicity.

“You create fear about BJP but don’t address the fear your own party created for Sikhs,” the student said, adding that the Congress had mischaracterized the Anandpur Sahib Resolution and never truly reconciled with the Sikh community. He cited convicted Congress leader Sajjan Kumar as a symbol of impunity within the party.

In response, Gandhi reaffirmed his condemnation of the riots. “I have publicly said what happened in the 80s was wrong,” he said. “I have visited the Golden Temple multiple times and have close relationships with the Sikh community.” He added that he was willing to "take responsibility for everything the Congress party has ever done wrong in its history,” even if the events occurred before his political career began.

The legacy of the 1984 riots remains one of India’s most painful chapters. Operation Blue Star, the army’s controversial move to flush out militants from the Golden Temple in Amritsar, sparked widespread anger among Sikhs. The subsequent assassination of Indira Gandhi by her Sikh bodyguards led to the brutal anti-Sikh pogroms.

Rahul Gandhi’s remarks have sparked political reactions back home. BJP leader Amit Malviya claimed the event highlighted Gandhi’s global credibility issues and accused him of past fear-mongering. The incident has once again reignited debate over accountability for historical wrongs and the politics of memory in India.