A sharp divide has emerged within the Congress over the legacy of former Delhi MP Sajjan Kumar, with Punjab leaders strongly condemning remarks by Rohtak MP Deepender Singh Hooda describing the convicted 1984 anti-Sikh riots figure as a “role model”.
Former Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi led the criticism, calling Sajjan Kumar an “inhuman person” and saying it was a “sin” even to praise or glorify him. Channi said the suffering of families affected by the 1984 violence could never be forgotten and that those who lost loved ones continued to carry deep trauma.
In a post on X, Channi described Kumar as a “dark reminder of an individual who disgraced humanity and justice”. During a visit to Ludhiana, he said the 1984 violence was not merely a Sikh issue but a matter concerning humanity and justice.
Hooda has since sought to distance himself from the controversy, saying he was being targeted for words he did not utter. He reaffirmed his support for the Sikh community and said his family had shared a “centuries-old bond of brotherhood” with Sikhs.
Hooda also reiterated that the 1984 riots represented a grave injustice and that those responsible should face the strictest punishment. He said his support for the Sikh community had remained consistent, including during the farmers’ protest.
His explanation, however, has failed to quell criticism within the Congress. Senior Haryana leader and former Assembly Speaker Kuldeep Sharma has demanded action against Hooda, writing to the party high command seeking his removal from the party and the Congress Working Committee. Sharma warned that praising a deeply polarising figure could have serious political consequences for the Congress.
Punjab Congress president Amarinder Singh Raja Warring also sought to distance the state unit from Hooda’s remarks. While saying Hooda’s comments could represent his “personal view”, Warring stressed that the pain and trauma of 1984 could not be forgotten, regardless of the passage of time. He also said those responsible for atrocities against innocent people could not escape justice.
Congress leader Brinder Singh Dhillon questioned how a person convicted in connection with the 1984 riots could be described as a “great leader”. He said death could not erase a conviction and warned that such remarks could deeply hurt victims and their families.
Channi was particularly forceful in his condemnation, recalling that as chief minister he had demanded that Kumar be handed over to Punjab so the state could demonstrate its outrage over the killings. He said Kumar had brought shame to humanity and that no amount of condemnation could be sufficient.
The episode has once again exposed the political sensitivity within the Congress surrounding the legacy of the 1984 anti-Sikh violence, forcing leaders in Punjab and Haryana to publicly distance themselves from remarks perceived as glorifying one of its most controversial figures.
