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.
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. Earlier reporting noted: Controversial former Congress MP Sajjan Kumar, who was serving two life sentences in connection with the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, died at the age of 80 on August 20.
The remarks triggered criticism from within the Congress, with senior Haryana Congress leader Kuldeep Sharma writing to party president Mallikarjun Kharge and seeking Hooda’s removal from the Congress Working Committee (CWC) for “extolling the virtues” of Sajjan Kumar. Hooda’s comments also drew sharp reactions in Punjab, where the SAD, BJP and AAP accused the Congress of having an “anti-Sikh mindset”. “If a senior Congress leader calls Sajjan Kumar his role model, it raises serious questions about the mindset and politics of the party,” Dhaliwal said. Punjab Congress president Amrinder Singh Raja Warring sought to distance the state unit from Hooda’s remarks, saying they may have reflected his “personal views”. Another Congress leader and former Punjab chief minister, Charanjit Singh Channi, on Saturday described Kumar as a “murderer of Sikhs” and a “traitor”. Earlier reporting noted: Sajjan Kumar row: Punjab Congress distances itself from Hooda’s ‘irreparable loss’ remark Punjab Congress president Amrinder Singh Raja Warring and party MP Charanjit Singh Channi have distanced themselves from party colleague Deepender Singh Hooda’s remarks describing Sajjan Kumar ’s death an “irreparable loss”. Earlier reporting noted: Condoling his death, Hooda, the Congress MP from Rohtak, had said that Kumar’s death was a “loss to the country’s political landscape” and praised his “connect with people and contribution to Delhi’s development”.
