While addressing a rally in Punjab, Rahul Gandhi stated that he had told veteran party leader Sam Pitroda that he should be “ashamed” of his comments on the 1984 anti-Sikh riots and that he should “apologise publicly.” Gandhi said that Pitroda’s “Hua Toh Hua” comment on the 1984 riots was “absolutely wrong.” 

At the rally, Gandhi said, “What Sam Pitroda said about 1984 is absolutely wrong and he should apologise to the nation for it. I told him this over the phone, I told him what he said was wrong, he should be ashamed and apologise publicly.” 

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Describing the riots - which had claimed the lives of at least 3,000 people - Gandhi had said in his post, "What Mr Sam Pitroda has said is absolutely and completely out of line and is not appreciated. I will be communicating this to him directly. He must apologise for his comment."

Last week on Thursday, Pitroda had waded into a controversy after he said "Hua toh Hua" in an attempt to dismiss the criticism against the party pertaining to the 1984 anti-Sikh riots case. His statement sparked an immediate backlash, with leaders across political lines criticizing the statement. 

Union Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal also slammed Pitroda in a fierce attack. She had told a news agency, "I would like to ask Mr Pitroda if his entire family is killed tomorrow, will he still think 'Hua Toh Hua'? He needs to go to that widow colony and find out those thousands of women who lost their family members overnight."

On the other hand, Pitroda claimed that his comments were "misrepresented and blown out of proportion".

"What I meant was move on. We have other issues to discuss as to what the BJP government did and what it delivered. I feel sorry that my remark was misrepresented. This has been blown out of proportion,” Rahul Gandhi had told to media.