Congress MP from Rohtak Deepender Hooda on Sunday regretted his remarks describing the death of 1984 anti-Sikh riots convict Sajjan Kumar as an “irreparable loss”—comments that triggered a major political row with party leaders from both Punjab and Haryana castigating him.
“My intention or objective was never to hurt anyone’s heart. The Sikh community is a proud community of our country, and I am proud of such a community, whose sacrifices can never be forgotten,” Hooda said in a press statement issued from Chandigarh, adding that the word “role model” was never part of his statement.
Sajjan Kumar, 80, a three-time former MP, died at Safdarjung Hospital on August 20. He was serving two life terms for his role in the riots.
Deep Dive
What did Deepender Hooda say about Sajjan Kumar that caused political backlash?
Why did Hooda express regret after his comments about Sajjan Kumar?
How did the Congress party respond to Hooda’s remarks on Sajjan Kumar?
Punjab Congress president Amarinder Singh Raja Warring sought to distance the state unit from the remarks, calling them Hooda’s “personal view.” Former Punjab chief minister Charanjit Singh Channi said Kumar “orchestrated the conspiracy to have Sikhs killed and massacred and did not even deserve a place in a jail cell.”
Haryana Congress leader Kuldeep Sharma wrote to party president Mallikarjun Kharge, seeking Hooda’s removal from the Congress Working Committee.
{{/usCountry}}Haryana Congress leader Kuldeep Sharma wrote to party president Mallikarjun Kharge, seeking Hooda’s removal from the Congress Working Committee.
{{/usCountry}}Members of the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee protested outside the residence of the leader of the Opposition, Rahul Gandhi, in Delhi, demanding an apology from the party. “Forty-two years later, the wounds of our families have been reopened,” a DSGMC leader said at the protest.