Deepender Hooda faces CWC removal demand over Sajjan Kumar praise
Synopsis
A Congress leader has formally demanded Deepender Hooda's removal from the CWC after Hooda called 1984 anti-Sikh riots convict Sajjan Kumar a 'role model.' With Punjab elections approaching in 2027 and the Sikh community's political loyalty in play, the controversy has exposed a fault line that the Congress leadership cannot easily ignore.
Key Takeaways
Former Haryana Speaker Kuldeep Sharma wrote to Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge on 23 August demanding Deepender Hooda's removal from the CWC .
Sajjan Kumar , convicted in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots and serving two life sentences , died in New Delhi on 20 August at age 80 .
Hooda described Kumar as a 'role model' and his death an 'irreparable loss,' triggering backlash from the Sikh community.
Sharma warned the remarks could cost Congress Sikh votes built up after the farmers' protest, ahead of the 2027 Punjab Assembly elections .
Opposition parties have reportedly seized on the controversy for political gains.
Congress leader and former Haryana Legislative Assembly Speaker Kuldeep Sharma has written to Congress National President Mallikarjun Kharge demanding the removal of Deepender Hooda from the Congress Working Committee (CWC), citing Hooda's remarks allegedly praising 1984 anti-Sikh riots convict Sajjan Kumar. The letter, sent from Chandigarh on 23 August, warns that the controversy risks damaging the party's standing with the Sikh community ahead of the 2027 Punjab Assembly elections.
Background: Sajjan Kumar's Death and Hooda's Remarks
Sajjan Kumar, who was serving two life sentences in connection with the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, died in New Delhi on 20 August at the age of 80. Following his death, Hooda described Kumar as a 'role model' and called his passing an 'irreparable loss' — remarks that drew immediate backlash from within the party and from the Sikh community at large.
What Kuldeep Sharma's Letter Says
In his letter to Kharge, Sharma wrote that Hooda's statement 'extolling the virtues of Mr Sajjan Kumar... as a role model' had 'sent shock waves among the Sikh community of India.' He said Sikh associates from Haryana and Punjab had contacted him to express their 'resentment over such irresponsible statement.'
Sharma argued that the Sikh community had 'overwhelmingly voted for Congress' following the farmers' protest, but that Hooda's remarks were prompting members to reconsider their support. He also flagged that opposition parties were 'taking up the issue for political gains.'
Punjab Election Stakes
Sharma underscored the electoral sensitivity of the controversy, noting that remarks made 'on the eve of Punjab elections' had 'not only harmed the interest of the party but has opened the wounds of the community.' He pointed out that Congress had previously 'disassociated itself completely from Mr Sajjan Kumar,' making Hooda's tribute all the more damaging to the party's stated position.
Sharma called for Hooda's removal from the CWC to 'demonstrate the bonafides of the Congress Party' and to 'heal the wounds that have now been re-opened' — particularly given the Sikh community's relevance not just in Punjab but also among the Indian diaspora abroad.
What Happens Next
As of the time of writing, neither the Congress leadership nor Deepender Hooda has publicly responded to Sharma's letter. The demand puts Mallikarjun Kharge in a difficult position: acting on it could be seen as an internal rebuke of a senior leader, while inaction risks prolonging a controversy with direct implications for the party's Punjab prospects.
Point of View
Whether intended as personal condolence or political signalling, have undone a carefully managed narrative at precisely the wrong moment. With Punjab due for elections in 2027 and the Sikh community's post-farmers'-protest goodwill being one of Congress's few electoral assets in the state, Kharge faces a test of whether internal party loyalty or electoral pragmatism takes precedence. The silence from the top leadership so far is itself a signal — and not a reassuring one.
NationPress
23 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Deepender Hooda facing demands for removal from the CWC?
Deepender Hooda is facing demands for removal from the Congress Working Committee after he described 1984 anti-Sikh riots convict Sajjan Kumar as a 'role model' and called his death an 'irreparable loss.' Congress leader Kuldeep Sharma wrote to party president Mallikarjun Kharge arguing the remarks have caused resentment within the Sikh community and damaged the party's interests.
Who was Sajjan Kumar and why was he controversial?
Sajjan Kumar was a former Congress leader who was convicted in connection with the 1984 anti-Sikh riots and was serving two life sentences at the time of his death. He died in New Delhi on 20 August at the age of 80. The 1984 riots, which followed the assassination of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, resulted in widespread violence against the Sikh community.
Who wrote to Mallikarjun Kharge and what did the letter say?
Former Haryana Legislative Assembly Speaker Kuldeep Sharma wrote to Congress National President Mallikarjun Kharge on 23 August, demanding Hooda's removal from the CWC. The letter argued that Hooda's remarks had 'sent shock waves among the Sikh community' and that opposition parties were exploiting the issue for political gains.
How could this controversy affect Congress in Punjab?
Sharma warned that the remarks could prompt Sikh voters — who had 'overwhelmingly voted for Congress' following the farmers' protest — to reconsider their support. With Punjab Assembly elections due in 2027, the controversy risks eroding one of Congress's key electoral constituencies in the state.
Has Congress or Deepender Hooda responded to the removal demand?
As of 23 August, neither the Congress leadership nor Deepender Hooda had publicly responded to Sharma's letter demanding his removal from the CWC.
