New Delhi: Bang in middle of election season, a letter, from the families of anti- Sikh riots to the Congress president Rahul Gandhi, has exploded. At least sixteen such families have signed the letter criticising his comment where he called the former Prime Minister and his father Rajiv Gandhi a 'martyr'.

"Can't forgive Rajiv Gandhi for the murder of 10,000 Sikhs"

"The Sikh community can never forgive Rajiv Gandhi for the murder 10,000 Sikhs. Not only did Gandhi order the genocide but he also rewarded riot accused Jagdish Tytler, Sajjan Kumar and Kamal Nath, by giving them posts of minister or member of parliament. He even normalised the genocide by saying, "Whenever a big tree falls, the earth shakes", reads the letter.

One of the signatories of the letter is Bhagat Singh. When MyNation contacted Singh, this is what he had to say, "We are hurt. How can he call Rajiv Gandhi a martyr? For three days in a row, there was absolute mayhem. No police, no law enforcement machinery present (during the 1984 anti-Sikh riots). Now, he has made Kamal Nath, one of the prime accused, as chief minister."

"Appeal to Sikh brothers not to vote for the Congress"

Another signatory is Surjeet Singh. When MyNation contacted him he didn't withhold his emotions either, "We have a great problem in Rahul Gandhi calling Rajiv Gandhi a martyr. He didn't call him one all this while. But just before the election, he calls his father a martyr, someone who oversaw the anti-Sikh genocide. I appeal to my Sikh brothers not to vote for the Congress.

Rahul Gandhi recently reacted sharply to PM Modi raking up the Bofors ghost by calling the former Prime Minister a 'martyr'. But with the Sikh community up in arms and an impending election in Punjab where the community has a massive sway, this letter is nothing short of a bombshell.