Chandigarh, Aug 23 (IANS) Congress leader and former Haryana Legislative Assembly Speaker Kuldeep Sharma has written to Congress National President Mallikarjun Kharge demanding the removal of party leader Deepender Hooda from the Congress Working Committee (CWC) over his remarks allegedly praising 1984 Sikh riots convict Sajjan Kumar.
According to Sharma, Hooda’s remarks praising Sajjan Kumar have caused resentment within the Sikh community and hence harmed the interest of the party. He mentioned that opposition parties are now using the issue for political gains.
Sajjan Kumar, who was serving two life sentences in connection with the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, passed away in New Delhi at the age of 80 on August 20. Following this, Hooda had described Sajjan Kumar as a role model and termed his demise an “irreparable loss”.
In his letter, Sharma wrote, “Ever since Mr Deepender Hooda, Permanent invitee to the CWC, has issued a statement extolling the virtues of Mr Sajjan Kumar, since deceased, as a role model, it has sent shock waves among the Sikh community of India.”
He said that his Sikh associates from Haryana and Punjab have called him to express their “resentment over such irresponsible statement”.
The former Speaker mentioned that the members of the Sikh community, in large numbers, backed Congress following the farmers’ protest; however, Hooda’s statement could make them reconsider their stance.
“It is pertinent to mention that after the Kisan agitation, the Sikh community had overwhelmingly voted for Congress in the country, but after such a statement, the community is having afterthoughts about supporting the party. The opposition parties are taking up the issue for political gains,” Sharma said.
The Congress leader mentioned that such remarks ahead of the 2027 Punjab Assembly elections would harm the party’s prospects.
“Such a statement made by Deepender Hooda on the eve of Punjab elections has not only harmed the interest of the party but has opened the wounds of the community as such. Needless to say that the Congress party had disassociated itself completely from Mr Sajjan Kumar,” he said.
“Therefore it is felt through a cross section of the public at large that in order to heal the wounds that have now been re-opened Mr Deepender Hooda should be removed from the CWC so as to demonstrate bonafides of the Congress Party, as such immature and irresponsible remarks have weakened the Congress party especially in the eyes of a community that is very relevant in Punjab which is soon up for elections, not to mention our country and even the diaspora abroad,” Sharma added.
–IANS
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