The controversy surrounding the death of 1984 anti-Sikh riots convict Sajjan Kumar has taken a fresh political turn, with three BJP MPs facing criticism for visiting his residence to offer condolences.
BJP chief Nitin Nabin said the MPs “shouldn’t have gone”. The BJP has summoned West Delhi MP Kamaljeet Sehrawat, South Delhi MP Ramvir Singh Bidhuri and North-West Delhi MP Yogender Chandoliya over their visit.
The latest controversy has now put the BJP on the defensive, particularly in the run-up to the Punjab Assembly elections, where the legacy of the 1984 riots remains a sensitive political issue. Sajjan Kumar was a former Congress MP who represented the Outer Delhi constituency after winning the Lok Sabha election in 1980. Despite the 1984 riots, he was elected to Parliament twice more on a Congress ticket, in 1991 and 2004. Earlier reporting noted: 3 Delhi BJP MPs Visit Sajjan Kumar’s House. Then Party Chief’s Big Action 3 Delhi BJP MPs Visit Sajjan Kumar’s House. Then Party Chief’s Big Action Earlier reporting noted: The controversies around the death of 1984 Sikh riots convict Sajjan Kumar have claimed three new victims — this time on the opposite side of the political spectrum. Earlier reporting noted: Sajjan Kumar, 80, died earlier this month while serving his life sentence for killing five men during the 1984 anti-Sikh riots.
The development comes days after Congress leader Deepender Hooda faced criticism from within his own party for condoling Kumar’s death, according to the NDTV report. AAP leader Baltej Pannu said the presence of the three BJP MPs at Kumar’s final bhog had exposed the party’s “real face”. These included West Delhi MP Kamaljeet Sehrawat, South Delhi MP Rambir Singh Bidhuri, and Northwest Delhi MP Yogender Chandolia,” Pannu said.
The BJP had also attacked Kumar and Hooda. However, the visit by its own MPs has now given the party’s political rivals an opportunity to question its position on the riots. “Now the real face of the BJP has also come to the fore. On the occasion of Sajjan Kumar’s final bhog, three BJP Members of Parliament were present. A few days after Congress leader Deepender Hooda was intensely criticised by his party colleagues for praising the controversial figure, three BJP MPs have now come under fire for visiting his house to offer condolences. The former Congress leader had been suffering from health issues such as high blood pressure and Parkinson’s disease. Some Haryana Congress leaders, including Hooda, were quick to condole his death, and were chastised owing to Kumar’s chequered past and the upcoming Punjab Assembly elections.
Several Congress leaders, including former Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi, had criticised Hooda for his remarks following Kumar’s death.
