Chandigarh: With ruling SAD and AAP attacking Congress over Kamal Nath's appointment as the general secretary in-charge of Punjab, PCC chief Amarinder Singh on Tuesday said the move will not "adversely impact" party's prospects in the Assembly elections in 2017.
The Lok Sabha MP from Amritsar also said it is not a "historic blunder at all" while accusing SAD and AAP of playing politics on the matter by raking up the issue of 1984 anti-Sikh riots.
The former Punjab chief minister also dismissed opposition parties' allegations against the senior Congress leader, saying he is an "innocent" man.
"These (allegations against Nath that he was involved in the 1984 riots) are all politics...it is being played up politically and it is very unfair that they are trying to tarnish his (Nath's) image," Amarinder said.
"These are lies and total lies. Kamal Nath was not involved in anything," he said.
AAP and SAD on Monday criticised Congress for appointing Nath with Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal terming it as "the ultimate insult to Sikhs".
Hitting out at Congress, HS Phoolka, an advocate fighting for the victims of the 1984 riots, had said by appointing Nath, Congress had tried to rub salt into wounds of the victims.
Asked whether Nath's appointment will hurt the party's prospects in forthcoming elections, Amarinder asked, "Why will it happen?"
"There will be no effect. Opposition parties are just making noise over this issue," he said.
"Everyone makes perception (about any person) because of politics. I do not think when a person who has not having anything to do..will you throw out someone because of some perception...this is no solution, we will have to stand up for what is right and this man is innocent and I believe him he is innocent," Amarinder said.
On the opposition calling the appointment as the party's "historic blunder", Amarinder said, "I don't think it's a historic blunder at all. He is a nine-time MP and has been sent to look after here."
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