Hooda denies calling Sajjan Kumar 'role model' as Congress leaders, rivals react

Congress MP Deepender Hooda on Sunday denied calling late leader Sajjan Kumar a "role model," saying he never used the words nor harboured such a sentiment. The clarification came after his remarks following Kumar's death triggered a political controversy in Punjab, where the Congress faces elections in less than six months.

Kumar, who was serving two life sentences for his involvement in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, died at the age of 80 on Thursday. Condoling Kumar's demise, Hooda had termed it a "loss to the country's political landscape" and praised the former Congress MP's "connect with people and contribution to Delhi's development."

When reporters asked Hooda if he had called Kumar a role model, the Rohtak MP said, "I did not use the words, nor did I harbour any such sentiment. These words are being put in my mouth by those who wish to play politics by undermining the spirit of brotherhood."

Hooda added, "I had no intention of hurting anyone's feelings; those who know me are aware that I never harboured any intent to cause hurt to anyone." He said his family shared a "centuries-old bond of brotherhood with Sikhs" and had stood by them in every struggle, including the farmers' agitation. He reiterated his family's stance on the 1984 riots, saying, "A grave injustice took place; the guilty must face strict punishment; the Sikh community deserves justice."

Some reports quoted Hooda as saying his statement had been "twisted" and that "English words are even being inserted into my statements that I never uttered." In a separate clarification, he expressed regret if anyone's feelings had been hurt, described the Sikh community as "family," and recalled the role of his great-grandfather Chaudhary Maturam in the 1908 Pagdi Sambhal Jatta movement.

Punjab Congress leaders distance themselves

Punjab Congress leaders were quick to distance themselves from Hooda's remarks. Former Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi described Kumar as a "murderer of the Sikhs" and a "traitor," and said, "Far from being a role model, even uttering his name is a sin." In a video message on X, Channi went further, saying Kumar "should have been shot publicly in a chowk," and that he "died in prison—a dark reminder of an individual who disgraced humanity and justice." He asserted that praising Kumar was unacceptable given the thousands of Sikhs killed in the 1984 violence.

Punjab Congress president Amrinder Singh Raja Warring also distanced the state unit, saying Hooda's remarks "may be his personal view." Warring described the 1984 violence as a "massive tragedy," adding that "the trauma runs deep in people's minds." Another Congress leader, Brinder Singh Dhillon, took to X to say that a conviction could not be erased by death and questioned how a person convicted in connection with the 1984 riots could be described as a great leader.

Haryana Congress leader demands Hooda's removal from CWC

Former Haryana Assembly Speaker Kuldeep Sharma, a senior Congress leader, wrote to party president Mallikarjun Kharge on Sunday seeking Hooda's removal from the Congress Working Committee (CWC). Sharma, who is also a former Congress lawmaker, accused Hooda of "extolling the virtues" of Kumar as a role model and said the remarks had "sent shock waves among the Sikh community."

In his letter, Sharma said a few of his Sikh friends from Haryana and Punjab had called him to express their resentment over "such an irresponsible statement." He warned that the controversy could hurt the Congress in Punjab, where elections are due, noting that after the farmers' agitation, "the Sikh community overwhelmingly voted for the Congress, but the community is having afterthoughts about supporting the party after such a statement."

Sharma wrote that the Congress had "disassociated itself completely" from Kumar and that Hooda's "immature and irresponsible remarks have weakened the Congress, especially in the eyes of the Sikh community." He urged Kharge to remove Hooda from the CWC to "heal the wounds that have now been re-opened." The Tribune reported that Sharma was the first Haryana Congress leader to publicly criticise Hooda over the issue; he and Hooda's father, Bhupinder Singh Hooda, were once close associates before falling out.

Reactions from rival parties

Rival parties in Punjab seized on the controversy. AAP MLA Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal said the wounds of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots were still fresh and described Hooda's alleged remarks as "deeply hurtful to the Sikh community." He demanded that Rahul Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi, and Kharge take action against Hooda, and questioned the silence of Punjab Congress leaders, including Partap Singh Bajwa, Charanjit Singh Channi, Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, and Warring. Dhaliwal said the Sikh community could not forget Operation Blue Star and the 1984 violence, and that such statements amounted to "rubbing salt into old wounds." He also questioned a proposed BJP-SAD alliance, referencing LK Advani's book and Harsimrat Kaur Badal's resignation during the farm agitation, but claimed the alliance would not affect AAP.

Punjab BJP president Kewal Singh Dhillon said Hooda's remarks were a "condemnable attempt to rub salt on the wounds" of 1984 riot victims. Shiromani Akali Dal leaders Bikram Singh Majithia and Daljit Singh Cheema demanded an unconditional apology from Hooda and the Congress. Haryana BJP president Archana Gupta commented that the demand to remove Hooda had come "from within Congress," and that "the pain of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots lives on in the memories of thousands of Sikh families."

Background on Sajjan Kumar

Sajjan Kumar, a former three-time Lok Sabha MP from Outer Delhi, was convicted in cases related to the 1984 anti-Sikh riots. The Delhi High Court overturned his acquittal in the Raj Nagar case in 2018 and sentenced him to life imprisonment; in February 2025, he received another life sentence in the Saraswati Vihar murder case. His death at 80 while serving his sentences has rekindled memories of the violence that followed Indira Gandhi's assassination.