Fatehgarh, May 13: All India Congress Committee (AICC) president Rahul Gandhi reiterated on Monday that Sam Pitroda should apologise for his remark on 1984 anti-Sikh riots. Gandhi said that Pitroda's statement was "absolutely wrong and he should apologise to the nation for it." The Congress president made this statement while addressing a public rally in Punjab's Fatehgarh Sahib. Sam Pitroda Triggers Yet Another Controversy, Says '1984 Mein Hua To Hua'; BJP, SAD Slam Congress.

“What Sam Pitroda said about 1984 is absolutely wrong and he should apologise to the nation for it. I told him this over the phone, I told him what he said was wrong, he should be ashamed and apologise publicly,” Rahul Gandhi was quoted by news agency ANI. Rahul Gandhi Rebukes Sam Pitroda Over His '1984 Me Hua To Hua' Comment, Asks Him to Tender Apology

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On Friday, Pitroda, who is in charge of the Indian Overseas Congress, apologised for his “hua toh hua” statement over the 1984 riots. The statement triggered objection from his colleagues as well as Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been criticising the Congress party for "hua toh hua (what happened, happened)" remark. In the latest, PM Modi during a rally in Himachal Pradesh's Solan said, "They ask for votes in the name of their ancestors, but when questioned on their (ancestors) misdeeds, they say hua to hua."

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Meanwhile, Congress leaders are distancing themselves from Pitroda’s remarks. “It is not the party’s stand, the party condemns it,” Congress spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi said at a press conference in New Delhi. “Congress has always worked to provide justice to the victims of 1984 riots. No act of violence and riots can be forgiven,” he added.

While apologising, Pitroda, mentor of Rahul Gandhi, said his comment had been misrepresented. “My Hindi is not that good, I think in English and translate in Hindi... I could not translate bura in my mind... what I really meant to say is jo hua bura hua tha (what happened was bad),” he said.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on May 13, 2019 04:46 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).