Congress’ official ‘mercenary’ Sajjan Kumar leads Bharat Bandh protest, heckles Republic TV reporter

Sajjan Kumar, one of the prime accused of 1984 Sikh riots was seen leading the Congress sponsored Bharat Bandh on fuel price hike and depreciation of rupee. He is being investigated by Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in cases relating to murder of three Sikhs during the riots. In 2012, the Central Bureau of Investigation prosecutor told a Delhi court that riots targeting the Sikhs had the “patronage” of Sajjan Kumar. During the Bharat bandh protests, Sajjan Kumar heckled a Republic TV reporter when the reporter asked ‘why are you here’. It is quite shameful for a senior leader of a national party to misbehave to media people. What is even more shameful is that a national party allowed a person who is accused of murder and active involvement in riots to lead a protest. It seems, Sajjan Kumar, the man accused of leading a lynch mob during 1984 riots is still dutifully playing the part of a ‘mercenary’ and the ‘muscleman’ in the Congress party as is evident from his leading the so-called ‘Bharat Bandh’. 

Congress party gave prestigious positions to Sajjan Kumar despite being accused of criminal activities. He was given Lok Sabha ticket in 1991 general elections and elected for second term. First time he was elected in 1980 to Lok Sabha. The Congress’love for Sajjan Kumar does not stop here. He was again elected on Congress ticket in 2004 general elections. A Special Investigation Team (SIT) is currently probing him in murder cases. A CD which supposedly contains his confessions on 1984 Sikh riots was submitted in March. He has been asked to reply in the matter and the High Court of Delhi conducted a hearing against him, after taking cognizance of an appeal filed by the CBI and several victims of the riots.

Almost 3000 people (official estimates) were killed during the 1984 Sikh massacre. The massacre was organized by senior leaders of Congress party on the backdrop assassination of Indira Gandhi by her Sikh bodyguards. Thousands of Sikh families were displaced due to riots and many Sikhs were killed in the riots. Women were raped and children were burned. The centre of massacre was Delhi and almost 20,000 Sikhs left the city to escape from brutalities of rioters led by leaders of Congress party. The then prime minister and son of Indira Gandhi justifies Sikh massacre and infamously said “when a big tree falls, the earth shakes.”

Despite the scale of massacre and grave human rights violations, Congress party gave tickets to people involved in 2004 general elections from the areas of in and around Delhi.  Sajjan Kumar, Jagdish Tytler, R. K. Anand– all prime accused of 1984 Sikh massacre was given ticket in 2004 general election. Congress has long history of rewarding the people who stood with it in illegal and criminal activities. The people who supported Congress during emergency like Ashok Vajpayee, Khushwant Singh were rewarded by the party later. The judges in India courts who supported the party during emergency were given high positions in judiciary. Similarly, the writers, poets, journalists who praised Congress and Gandhi family got timely rewarded with Rajya Sabha seats, party tickets, and senior government positions.