Phoolka accuses AAP of ‘playing politics’ with 1984 riot victims

Addressing a press conference here, Phoolka said the AAP’s recent protests over three BJP MPs visiting Kumar’s residence were an example of political hypocrisy and accused the party of using the issue for electoral gains instead of genuinely fighting for justice

Bharatiya Janata Party leader and Supreme Court lawyer HS Phoolka on Wednesday questioned the presence of an Aam Aadmi Party Delhi legislator at former Congress MP Sajjjan Kumar’s condolence meeting, accusing the party of “playing politics” with the victims of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots.

Phoolka said he resigned from all party posts in September 2015 in protest against the delay. (HT FILE)

Addressing a press conference here, Phoolka said the AAP’s recent protests over three BJP MPs visiting Kumar’s residence were an example of political hypocrisy and accused the party of using the issue for electoral gains instead of genuinely fighting for justice.

“The victims had waited for decades for justice, and their suffering should not be reduced to a political tool. Those who genuinely stand with the victims cannot simultaneously express solidarity with those convicted in cases relating to crimes against them,” he said.

His remarks came after AAP legislator Ram Singh Netaji was seen at a condolence meeting for Kumar. Kumar, who was serving two life sentences in connection with the riots, died at Safdarjung Hospital in Delhi on August 20.

He added that after the Narendra Modi-led government came to power in 2014, the then Union home minister Rajnath Singh announced an additional ₹5 lakh compensation for each victim family of the 1984 riots.

He said the Centre directed the states to distribute the compensation at the earliest. “While compensation was distributed in several states, it was delayed in Delhi after the AAP government came to power. I repeatedly requested the AAP government to distribute the compensation. The money had already been sanctioned by the Centre. But I was told that there was no point in giving it immediately and that it could be given closer to the Punjab elections,” he alleged.

Phoolka said he resigned from all party posts in September 2015 in protest against the delay. Subsequently, on November 1, 2015, the Delhi government distributed the additional compensation at a function in Tilak Vihar.

“The victims had already waited 30 years. Their suffering should never have been viewed through the lens of electoral calculations,” he said.

Recently, Congress MP Deepender Hooda had also faced backlash over his alleged remarks describing Kumar as a “role model”. The Rohtak MP later denied using the phrase and expressed regret if his comments hurt anyone’s feelings.