City
Epaper

1984 anti-Sikh riots: BJP MLA demands apology from LoP Gandhi after Sajjan Kumar’s conviction

By IANS | Updated: February 14, 2025 18:10 IST

New Delhi, Feb 14 Newly-elected Delhi BJP legislator Manjinder Singh Sirsa on Friday wrote to Congress leader Rahul ...

Open in App

New Delhi, Feb 14 Newly-elected Delhi BJP legislator Manjinder Singh Sirsa on Friday wrote to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi seeking expulsion of his party colleague Sajjan Kumar after the latter’s conviction in the third 1984 anti-Sikh riots case.

Sirsa asked Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi to prove his commitment to justice and communal harmony by issuing “a public apology to the Sikh community and the entire nation for the Congress' role in sheltering and empowering criminals like Sajjan Kumar.”

The BJP legislator from Rajouri Garden said as LoP, Rahul Gandhi should bring a resolution in Parliament thanking the government for forming the Special Investigation Team (SIT) and ensuring that the 1984 riot accused were brought to justice.

Describing the 1984 genocide as one of the darkest and most shameful chapters in India's history, Sirsa wrote, “For nearly four decades, victims and their families have relentlessly fought for justice against those who orchestrated, enabled, and shielded the massacre of innocent Sikhs. Now, with the court confirming his (Sajjan Kumar’s) crimes for the third time, the onus is on you to act with moral courage and political accountability.”

Reminding LoP Gandhi about his visit to Sri Darbar Sahib (Golden Temple), wearing a head scarf and his attempt to project himself as an ally of the Sikh community, Sirsa said that despite the conviction of Sajjan Kumar there has been no official condemnation from the leadership of the party.

“Sajjan Kumar was not just a Congress member, he was protected, promoted, and shielded by your party for decades,” he said.

The BJP’s Sikh leader wrote, “Justice delayed is justice denied. The Sikh community and the nation have neither forgotten nor forgiven. This is not merely a legal matter - it is a moral test for your leadership. Will you choose justice over political convenience? Or will you continue to follow the same path of denial and evasion that Congress has treaded for decades?”

A Delhi court on February 12 convicted Sajjan Kumar in connection with the killing of a father-son duo in the Saraswati Vihar area on November 1, 1984 during the riots.

Special Judge Kaveri Baweja pronounced the conviction order and fixed the arguments on the quantum of the sentence for February 18.

This case is related to the killing of Jaswant Singh and his son Tarundeep Singh in the Saraswati Vihar area during the riots.

Earlier on January 31, the Rouse Avenue Court reserved its verdict after hearing additional submissions advanced by Public Prosecutor Manish Rawat.

On the other hand, Advocate Anil Sharma had submitted that Sajjan Kumar's name was not there from the very beginning and there was a delay of 16 years in naming him as an accused by the witness.

It was also submitted that a case in which Sajjan Kumar was convicted by the Delhi High Court is pending appeal before the Supreme Court.

Disclaimer: This post has been auto-published from an agency feed without any modifications to the text and has not been reviewed by an editor

Open in App

Related Stories

MumbaiMumbai: DRI Seizes ₹37.7 Crore Gold at Mumbai Airport, 25 Foreign Nationals Under Scanner

Other SportsSub-jr Women's National Hockey: Odisha, MP, UP, Jharkhand reach win, reach semis

National"Sidelined in her party...continues to talk so much": EPS hits out at DMK leader Kanimozhi

NationalAssembly polls: Puducherry records historic 89.83 per cent voter turnout

NationalCyber fraud crackdown: Two accused in investment scams worth over Rs 74 lakh arrested by Delhi Police

National Realted Stories

NationalJazeera Airways operates special Kuwait-Mangaluru flight via Dammam

NationalBeheading incident: Tejashwi Yadav slams Nitish Kumar, says law and order completely collapsed

NationalPoliticisation of identity, migration, and language in Assam, West Bengal dominate; override addressal

National2,527 eateries inspected, 703 kg of food destroyed as Gujarat steps up paneer–analogue checks

NationalIndian Army showcases 'tank in air' Apache firepower during 'Brahmastra' desert drill