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.
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 Congress had disassociated itself completely from Sajjan Kumar. Our Sikh brothers should get justice and those guilty should be punished.
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. “We have said before that 1984 riots were a great injustice. Earlier reporting noted: Kumar, a controversial former Congress MP who was serving two life sentences in connection with the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, died at the age of 80 on Thursday.
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.
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. The former speaker said that a statement made by Deepender Hooda on the eve of Punjab elections has harmed the party’s interest. Meanwhile, Deepender in a statement said that he had no intention of hurting anyone’s feelings. We stand by the Sikh community,’’ the Rohtak MP said. Earlier reporting noted: Deepender Hooda makes U-turn after backlash over Sajjan Kumar ‘role model’ remark Facing backlash over his alleged remarks describing former Congress MP Sajjan Kumar as a “role model”, Rohtak Congress MP Deepender Hooda on Sunday denied using the phrase and expressed regret if his comments hurt anyone’s feelings.
Earlier reporting noted: Also Read | Sajjan Kumar row: Punjab Congress distances itself from Hooda’s ‘irreparable loss’ remark
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.
