1984 Anti-Sikh Riots: HS Phoolka Accuses Sonia Gandhi of Giving ‘Clean Chit’ to Rajiv Gandhi

November 10, 2026

New Delhi: Leadership of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and senior advocate H.S. Phoolka on Tuesday accused Congress Parliamentary Party (CPP) Chairperson Sonia Gandhi of trying to clear her late husband and former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi of any wrongdoing in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots.

The comments came after Sonia Gandhi in her autobiography Belonging: A Journey of Love wrote about the delay in sending the Army into action after the assassination of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in October 1984.

“Orders were issued to Army Chief General A.S.Vaidya on the night of the assassination. However, he did not deploy the closest Army units since they were manned by Sikh troops, which could have made the situation worse,” Sonia Gandhi wrote in the book.

Phoolka said at a press conference that Sonia Gandhi is trying to clear Rajiv Gandhi and his family by saying that there was nothing wrong done. He said that this is not correct as per official records and the findings of various commissions of inquiry.

Phoolka cites reports of Misra and Nanavati commissions

He said that the reason given by Sonia Gandhi in her book about the delay in sending of Army was not true as per the findings of the Misra and Nanavati commissions.

“On the morning of November 1, 1984 nearly 6000 Army personnel were available but were not sent out to counter the violence,” he said.

“If the Army had been deployed on time, the lives of about 2,000 Sikhs could have been saved,” he said.

He quoted the report of the Misra Commission which said that on the night of October 31 and morning of November 1, around 6100 troops were available in Delhi but were not sent out.

“The commission also observed that 5000 of the soldiers could have been sent on the streets of Delhi on the morning of November 1 and the lives of at least 2000 Sikhs could have been saved. This was also observed by the Nanavati Commission,” he said.

The BJP leader said that General Vaidya did not hesitate to send out the Sikh army because he did not have confidence in them.

Phoolka questions role of Rajiv Gandhi and civil administration

Phoolka said that General Vaidya testified before the Misra Commission and said that he felt it was important to maintain a strong military force in Delhi.

“He spoke to the GOC in Delhi and found out that around 6000 troops were available. He also sent for more troops from Meerut and they arrived in Delhi on the night of October 31,” he said.

Rajiv Gandhi instructing General Vaidya to bring in the Army was not mentioned in his testimony, Phoolka said. “completely contrary to the official record”

While he conceded that the report of the Misra Commission does mention Rajiv Gandhi making General Vaidya aware of the situation, he said it was the duty of the Army Chief to make sure they are always on hand. The power to requisition and send the Army lay with the civil administration.

“They failed to do so,” he said.

“What did the Prime Minister do then? What action did Rajiv Gandhi take against those who were responsible for not requisitioning the Army?”

He recalled that Rajiv Gandhi said after the riots “When a big tree falls, the earth shakes a little” referring to the assassination of Indira Gandhi. “He used this statement to justify the massacre of Sikhs.”