Former Haryana assembly Speaker demands Deepender’s ouster from CWC over Sajjan Kumar row

Deepender’s remark describing former Congress leader Sajjan Kumar as an “example” and terming his death as an “irreparable loss” to the country’s political landscape has triggered a controversy with several Punjab Congress leaders distancing themselves from Hooda’s remarks

Former Haryana assembly Speaker Kuldeep Sharma has urged Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge to remove Rohtak member of Parliament Deepender Hooda from the Congress Working Committee (CWC) over his remarks praising former party leader Sajjan Kumar.

Deepender in a statement said that he had no intention of hurting anyone’s feelings. We have said before that 1984 riots were a great injustice, the Rohtak MP said. (HT File)

In an August 23 communication to Kharge, the former Congress lawmaker said Hooda’s comments had “re-opened the wounds” of the Sikh community and could damage the Congress’s prospects in Punjab, where the party faces elections.

Deepender’s remark describing former Congress leader Sajjan Kumar as an “example” and terming his death as an “irreparable loss” to the country’s political landscape has triggered a controversy with several Punjab Congress leaders distancing themselves from Hooda’s remarks.

Kumar, a former Outer Delhi Congress MP was accused of involvement in the violence against Sikhs following Indira Gandhi’s assassination in 1984 and sentenced to life imprisonment. Deepender’s party colleague and Lok Sabha MP from Jalandhar, Charanjit Channi said that it was unacceptable to praise Sajjan Kumar who died in prison serving life sentences for his involvement in 1984 anti-Sikh violence. Punjab Congress chief, Amarinder Singh Raja Warring also distanced himself from Deepender’s remarks stating that latter’s remarks could be his personal view.

“Ever since Deepender Hooda, permanent invitee to the CWC, has issued a statement extolling the virtues of Sajjan Kumar as a role model it has sent shock waves among the Sikh community of India. A few of my Sikh friends from Haryana and Punjab have called me to express their resentment over such irresponsible statements,’’ Sharma wrote.

The former speaker said after the Kisan agitation the Sikh community had overwhelmingly voted for the Congress but after such a statement the community is having afterthoughts about supporting the Congress. “The opposition parties are taking up the issue for political gains,’’ Sharma said.

The former speaker said that a statement made by Deepender Hooda on the eve of Punjab elections has harmed the party’s interest. “The Congress had disassociated itself completely from Sajjan Kumar. Therefore, in order to heal the wounds that have now been re-opened, Deepender Hooda should be removed from the CWC so as to demonstrate bonafides of the party as such immature and irresponsible remarks have weakened the party in the eyes of a community that is very relevant in Punjab,’’ Sharma wrote.

Meanwhile, Deepender in a statement said that he had no intention of hurting anyone’s feelings. “We have said before that 1984 riots were a great injustice. Our Sikh brothers should get justice and those guilty should be punished. We stand by the Sikh community,’’ the Rohtak MP said.