New Delhi: The Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) has urged BJP president Nitin Nabin to take strict action against three party MPs who visited the residence of former Congress leader Sajjan Kumar after his death.
The three MPs Ramvir Singh Bidhuri, Yogender Chandolia and Kamaljeet Sehrawat visited Kumar’s residence to offer condolences to his family. The visit triggered criticism because Kumar was convicted in connection with the 1984 anti-Sikh riots and was serving a life sentence at the time of his death.
Sajjan Kumar, 80, died on August 20 at a Delhi hospital while serving his sentence. He was convicted in cases involving the killings of Sikhs during the violence that followed the assassination of then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in 1984.
The DSGMC strongly objected to the MPs’ visit. Committee chief Harmeet Singh Kalka and general secretary Jagdeep Singh Kahlon said Kumar was a key perpetrator in the 1984 violence and argued that offering condolences at his residence was deeply hurtful to victims and their families.
The Sikh body has therefore written to BJP chief Nitin Nabin, seeking disciplinary action against the three lawmakers. The committee also pointed to what it described as the BJP’s longstanding support for victims of the 1984 riots and their demand for justice.
The controversy has already prompted action from the BJP leadership. Nitin Nabin summoned the three MPs and expressed his displeasure over their visit. According to reports, the party president told them that they should not have gone to Kumar’s residence. The MPs have also been asked to explain their conduct.
The BJP has maintained that the three MPs visited Kumar’s home in their personal capacity and were not representing the party during the visit.
The incident has also drawn criticism from within the BJP. Punjab BJP president Kewal Singh Dhillon described the visit as “painful and unfortunate” and said the Punjab unit strongly condemned it.
The controversy comes at a sensitive time for the BJP, which has repeatedly highlighted its support for the victims of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots. The visit has renewed debate over how political leaders should respond to figures associated with one of the darkest episodes of independent India’s history.
For the Sikh community, the issue is particularly sensitive as families of the victims have continued to seek justice for decades. The DSGMC has now made clear that it expects the BJP leadership to maintain its stated position and take action against the MPs involved.
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