Sam Pitroda said on Friday that he meant ‘jo hua wo bura hua [what happened was bad]’ on the 1984 anti-Sikh riots and not ‘hua-toh-hua’ but could not translate ‘bura’ in his mind as his Hindi is not good. He also alleged that his ‘hua-toh-hua’ statement on the 1984 riots was “completely twisted” and was taken “out of context”.His apology came after Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders, Sikh groups and Prime Minister Narendra Modi attacked Pitroada. The prime minister even said it should not be taken as views of an individual but of the Congress party which was arrogant on the issue from the beginning. Congress also distanced itself from his remarks. “The statement I made was completely twisted, taken out of context because my Hindi isn’t good, what I meant was ‘jo hua vo bura hua,’ I couldn’t translate ‘bura’ in my mind,” Sam Pitroda said. Earlier on Thursday, Indian Overseas Congress chief Sam Pitroda brushed off the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, saying ‘hua-toh-hua’. Sam Pitroda has apologised for his remark. Sam Pitroda said that what he meant was “move on” and that there are other issues to discuss. The Congress leader also said that he feels sorry his statement was misinterpreted and blown out of proportion. He said, “What I meant was move on. We have other issues to discuss as to what BJP govt did and what it delivered. I feel sorry that my remark was misrepresented, I apologise. This has been blown out of proportion.” Sam Pitroda’s apology comes hours after Congress released a statement on the party leader’s remark on the 1984 anti-Sikh riots. The party said, in a statement, that it was not the opinion of the Congress. Congress said, “We continue to support the quest for justice for 1984 riot victims. Any opinion remark made by any individual to the contrary including Sam Pitroda is not the opinion of Congress party. We advise all the leaders to be careful and sensitive.” “Congress party believes that justice should be done to 1984 riots victims as also to 2002 Gujarat riots victims. We abhor violence of any kind, against any person or a group of people based on their caste, colour, region or religion. This is the essence of India.”
