NEW DELHI, APRIL 19 The day after The Indian Express reported how Congress nominee lawyer R K Anand defended the Delhi Administration over its alleged role in the Sikh riots, going to the extent of imputing a ‘‘Christian connection’’ to riot relief, Anand said he was ‘‘offering an apology.’’ And claimed that he had ‘‘faith in that religion.’’

Said Anand, the Congress’s South Delhi constituency candidate: ‘‘I offer an apology to the Sikh community on behalf of the Congress party and for my self for the 1984 riots...Our party has apologised to the Sikhs even before but I want this matter to be buried. It happened 20 years back and why should it be raked up again? The BJP is bringing it up again for political gains but they will not succeed.’’

Anand claimed that the Congress would get Sikh support in Delhi as the Sikhs are a ‘‘progressive community and believe in looking ahead, believe in the virtue of forgiveness.’’

‘‘I believe in the Sikh tradition,’’ said Anand. ‘‘My grandfather was a Sikh. I remember stories from my mother about how she used to visit the Golden Temple everyday at 4 am to offer prayers. Everyday a baaz — an eagle which represents Guru Gobind Singh—would take a bath at the kund there only after which my mother and her friends would take the holy dip in the tank.’’

He recalled his trips to Himachal Pradesh, 25 years ago, when belief in the Sikh tradition helped him out. Anand said, ‘‘I used to drive to Himachal very often in my Fiat and those days, it would be difficult to rev up the engine early in the morning. You may find it hard to believe but the engine would pick up right after I would play the Gurbani cassette in the car stereo. I have faith in that religion and do not want to hurt the sentiments of the Sikhs at all.’’

Anand added: ‘‘My cousins are Sikhs. They are married in to Sikh families. How can I hurt the feelings of the Sikh community? Even this Baisakhi, I was honoured with a saropa by 50,000 Sikhs at the Majnu Ka Tila gurudwara.