Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Punjab legislator Kuldeep Dhaliwal on Friday, 21 August sharply condemned Congress MP Deepender Hooda for reportedly describing Sajjan Kumar — a prime accused in the 1984 anti-Sikh massacre — as his 'role model' and a 'good human being.' Dhaliwal called the remark 'disgusting and insensitive,' saying it had deeply hurt the entire Sikh community.

What Dhaliwal Said

Speaking in a statement, the AAP leader said Hooda's comments amounted to defending those responsible for the killing of Sikhs. He demanded that Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, along with senior leaders Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, and Priyanka Gandhi, immediately expel Hooda from the party.

'There should be no place in any political party for leaders who rub salt into the wounds of the victims of 1984,' Dhaliwal said.

AAP Challenges Punjab Congress Leaders

Dhaliwal also questioned the silence of Punjab Congress leaders on the controversy, challenging them to publicly oppose Hooda's statement and demand his expulsion from the party's central leadership. He warned that continued silence would be interpreted as tacit support for what he termed Hooda's 'anti-Sikh mindset.'

'Punjab Congress leaders should come out on the streets against Deepender Hooda's statement and demand his expulsion from the Congress central leadership,' he said. 'Punjab Congress leaders should prove their morality by taking to the streets.'

Background: Sajjan Kumar and 1984

Sajjan Kumar, a former Congress MP, was convicted by the Delhi High Court in 2018 for his role in the anti-Sikh violence that followed the assassination of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in 1984. The riots claimed the lives of thousands of Sikhs across India, with Delhi among the worst-affected cities. Kumar is currently serving a life sentence.

This is not the first time Congress has faced political heat over its perceived association with those linked to the 1984 violence. Critics have long argued that the party has been slow to hold accountable those implicated in the pogrom.

Political Significance

The controversy carries particular weight in Punjab, where the 1984 massacre remains a deeply sensitive issue. AAP, which governs Punjab, has frequently targeted Congress over its handling of the 1984 legacy, and Dhaliwal's statement appears calibrated to sharpen that political divide. Notably, Deepender Hooda has not publicly responded to the AAP's demands as of the time of reporting.

With Punjab assembly politics in a state of ongoing churn, the episode is likely to intensify scrutiny of Congress's position on accountability for the 1984 violence in the weeks ahead.