Families of victims of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, along with the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC), burned copies of Sonia Gandhi's new memoir on Thursday.
The protest took place at the Rakab Ganj Gurdwara in New Delhi.
The protesters gathered at a wall called the Wall of Truth and raised slogans against the Congress leader.
The memoir is called Belonging: A Journey of Love, and it was released on Tuesday.
The 1984 riots broke out after the killing of Indira Gandhi. Thousands of Sikhs were killed in the violence.
Many families still say they are waiting for justice.
Key points
- Victims' families and the DSGMC burned copies of the memoir on Thursday.
- The protest was held at the Rakab Ganj Gurdwara in New Delhi.
- The protesters say the book does not reflect the historical truth and suffering of Sikhs.
- The DSGMC says it will continue its legal battles for justice.
So what did the memoir actually say?
Gandhi calls the 1984 riots a "tragic and shameful" chapter in the country's history.
She writes that her husband, former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi, had no bigotry or rancour in his heart.
Rancour means deep bitterness.
She also writes that he came into a moment in history when governance had failed. That, she says, made way for barbarism.
The book describes violence breaking out across Delhi and beyond after news of Indira Gandhi's killing spread.
Gandhi quotes herself saying that more than 2,000 people lost their lives in the capital alone.
Graphic: News Anek, from the facts in this report
The DSGMC leaders also criticised Rajiv Gandhi over a reported remark.
The remark compared his mother's assassination and the riots that followed to a large tree falling and shaking the earth.
Why are the families still so angry?
The protesters said the account does not reflect the historical events and the suffering of the Sikh community.
They say the families of victims continue to seek justice, even after four decades.
For them, the issue is about how the past is remembered.
It is also about whether justice has been delivered for those killed.
What happens next for the protesters?
The DSGMC said it will continue its legal battles.
The committee wants those responsible for the violence to be brought to justice.
The protest was led by DSGMC president Harmeet Singh Kalka and general secretary Jagdeep Singh Kahlo.
Sources
- Rediff.com: Sikh riot victims' kin burn Sonia Gandhi's memoir over massacre account
- Free Press Journal: 1984 Anti-Sikh Riots Victims' Families Burn Sonia Gandhi's Memoir At Delhi's Rakab Ganj Gurdwara | Video
- The Times of India: ‘Clean Chit To Gandhi Family’: 1984 Anti-Sikh Riot Victims' Families Burn Sonia’s Memoir
