Kamal Nath denied any involvement in the 1984 anti-Sikh genocide in a pre-recorded interview aired moments after he was announced as the next chief minister of Madhya Pradesh on Thursday, 13 December.
“Has a case been filed against me? Forget me denying it, so many commissions were set up at that time. Nobody has every filed a charge or complaint against me. Where are the cases against me? Why will 1984 haunt me? It’s now only that they are bringing up this allegation,” Nath said, adding that he “completely denies any involvement” in the 1984 anti-Sikh genocide.
“The Sikh population of Madhya Pradesh is very diligent and knows who is behind these games,” Nath added.
Nearly 3,000 people died in November 1984 across the country, when large-scale violence broke out after the then prime minister Indira Gandhi was assassinated by her Sikh bodyguards. There were allegations that senior leaders of the Congress were involved.
Scindia Deserves to be Accommodated
Even as Nath’s party announced that there will be no deputy chief minister in Madhya Pradesh, in an interview with India Today recorded before the official announcement, he said that he has no problems with Scindia, the other probable senior Congress leader in the race of CM post.
He deserves to be accommodated. There are no camps here.Kamal Nath on Jyotiraditya Scindia
“Jyotiraditya Scindia, Digvijaya Singh and all the other leaders have to be accommodated,” he said.
Nath also confirmed his desperation to bring his party to this state.
“I was hungry to bring Congress back to Madhya Pradesh. I wasn’t hungry to become the chief minister,” he told Rajdeep Sardesai, confirming that the race to win this elections was solely for Congress’ revival in the state.
I was picked for the job. I have been in politics for several decades now.Kamal Nath on taking over as chief minister
Snubbing the myth of Shah-Modi duo’s invincibility, Nath said “I proved Modi-Shah are not invincible. I did fear BJP will overtake us. I was anxious, but then the confidence came in by 10 pm, because even if the BJP had brought in all rebels, they couldn't have won,” he said.
Rejecting aspersions cast on him for being the ‘one for Industrialists’ he said, “I am associated with no industry. There is no industry in my name. I was dealing with industries as a minister.” Nath was referring to his tenure as a Union Minister for Commerce and Industry from 2004 to 2009 under United Progressive Alliance (UPA).
Nath also displayed conviction in fulfilling the party’s grand promise of waiving loans of farmers across Madhya Pradesh within 10 days of taking charge.
Our loan waiver promise is not a jumla. It’s my conviction and promise. No Question on this.Kamal Nath, Congress CM’s pick for Madhya Pradesh
“I must say this. This is my conviction. A farmer in India is born in debt and he dies in debt. This 70 percent population drives the economy of Madhya Pradesh and the bazaars of Indore,” Nath added.
On being asked what will be his priority as Madhya Pradesh’s new CM, Nath confirmed that the party will swiftly waive the crippling farmers’ debt running into lakhs.
Nath also said that he will give a major share of credit to the Congress chief for his party’s victory in Madhya Pradesh. “I will give huge credit to Rahul Gandhi for victory in MP. He worked really hard,” Nath said.
He added that ‘misconceived’ financial policies like demonetisation and introduction of Goods and Services Tax introduced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government had a huge impact in Madhya Pradesh. “We will modify GST in Madhya Pradesh,” he added.
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