Rahul Gandhi says he will tell Sam Pitroda to apologise for 'Hua to Hua' shocker, issues statement saying 'I think justice has to be done for needless 1984 tragedy'

Rahul Gandhi in his first response to Sam Pitroda's 'Hua to Hua' remarks about the 1984 Anti-Sikh riots said that the comment is 'out of line' and called for an apology from the Indian Overseas Congress leader. 

Calling it a tragedy that caused 'tremendous pain' and something that shouldn't have happened, the Congress president further stated that justice must be served and those responsible must be punished. 

His statement read: 

I think what Sam Pitroda Ji said is completely out of line and he should apologise for it.

I think 1984 was a needless tragedy that caused tremendous pain.

I think justice has to be done. The people who were responsible for the 1984 tragedy have to be punished. The Former PM, Manmohan Singh Ji has apologised. My mother, Sonia Gandhi Ji has apologised. We all have made our position very clear - that 1984 was a terrible tragedy and should never have happened.

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.

WATCH: "His Hindi Is Not Bad, His Soul Is," Says Smriti Irani Over Sam Pitroda's 'My Hindi Isn't That Good' Explanation For '1984 Hua Toh Hua' Shocker

A day after the 'Hua toh Hua' comment over the 1984 Anti-Sikh riots, Congress' Indian Overseas chief Sam Pitroda instead of apologising put the blame behind his 'poor Hindi', retaliating to which Union Minister Smriti Irani said that not his Hindi, his soul his bad. 

Pitroda said while interacting with media in Shimla, "My Hindi is not good. What I meant was 'jo hua bura hua'. I couldn't translate 'Bura' in my mind. What I meant was move on."

While talking to media on Nanavati Commission's report on Thursday, May 9, Pitroda said: "I don't think so, this is also another lie, and what is with 1984? You speak about what happened in 5 years. It happened in 1984, so what? (1984 Hua to Hua)" 

The senior Congress leader recieved flak from the BJP bigwigs, including PM Narendra Modi and party president Amit Shah, as well as Opposition leaders. 

READ| Finance Minister Arun Jaitley Slams Sam Pitroda's Insensitive Comment On 1984 Anti-Sikh Riots Asking ,"Will The Congress President Oust His 'Guru', Who Rubbishes The 1984 Genocide?"

On Friday, May 10, in its first written response on 'Hua To Hua' remark on the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, the Congress party issued an official statement saying 'Indian Congress and its leadership have strived to ensure justice for 1984 riot victims.' They also said that any remark by Sam Pitroda or anyone is not the opinion of the party.