Delhi Assembly passes resolution demanding withdrawal of Rajiv Gandhi's Bharat Ratna

The Delhi Assembly on Friday passed a resolution demanding the withdrawal of the Bharat Ratnaawarded to the former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi in 1991.

The resolution, passed by a voice vote, cited the 1984 anti-Sikh riots as the reason behind its demand for the withdrawal of the award.

AAP MLA Jarnail Singh who moved the resolution said, "Delhi Assembly today declared 1984 anti-Sikh riots as worst genocide in the history of India’s national capital. In a resolution that has been passed today, we have demanded from the Centre that Bharat Ratna should be withdrawn from Former PM Rajiv Gandhi".

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The resolution said the Delhi government should "strongly" convey in writing to the Union Home Ministry (MHA) that justice continues to elude the families and near-dear ones of the victims of the worst "genocide" in the history of India's national capital.

The resolution was passed days after the High Court passed a historic verdict on the anti-Sikh riots. The court on December 17 reversed the acquittal of former Congress leader Sajjan Kumar by the trial court and sentenced him to life imprisonment on charges ranging from murder to criminal conspiracy.

Rajiv Gandhi was posthumously awarded the Bharat Ratna award in 1991.

(With inputs from agencies)