SAD, riot victims slam Deepender Hooda over Sajjan Kumar 'irreplaceable loss' remark
Synopsis
A single eulogy triggered a political firestorm: Congress MP Deepender Hooda's tribute to convicted 1984 riots accused Sajjan Kumar drew immediate condemnation from the SAD and victims' families, who say justice remains elusive 40 years on — and who are now demanding the Congress explain whose side it stands on.
Key Takeaways
Congress MP Deepender Singh Hooda called the death of convicted former MP Sajjan Kumar 'an irreplaceable loss', triggering sharp backlash.
Sajjan Kumar was serving a life sentence for his role in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots and died at Safdarjung Hospital, New Delhi .
SAD leader Bikram Singh Majithia demanded an apology from Hooda and the Congress, and questioned whether the remark reflected the views of Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi .
Surjit Singh , president of the 1984 Anti-Sikh Riots Victim Welfare Society , said victims 'haven't still received justice' and warned Hooda against such remarks.
A victim's family member also named Surjit Singh said seven members of his family were burned alive in the riots.
The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and families of those killed in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots sharply condemned Congress MP Deepender Singh Hooda on 21 August after he described the death of convicted former Congress MP Sajjan Kumar as 'an irreplaceable loss', with critics demanding he 'be ashamed' of the remark.
Who Was Sajjan Kumar
Sajjan Kumar was serving a life sentence in connection with cases stemming from the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, which erupted following the assassination of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi by two of her Sikh bodyguards. He died at Safdarjung Hospital in New Delhi. The riots claimed an estimated 3,000 lives, according to SAD leaders.
What Hooda Said
Speaking to reporters, Hooda said: 'It is an irreplaceable loss for the country's political horizon. Sajjan Kumar was not only a prominent figure in Delhi and rural Delhi but across North India. His connection with the people was exemplary, and he is cited as an example across our country.'
The Backlash From SAD
SAD leader Bikram Singh Majithia said he condemned the statement outright and called on both Hooda and the Indian National Congress (Congress) to apologise. 'How can a person like Jagdish Tytler, HKL Bhagat... and all those who killed our innocent Sikh brothers in broad daylight and are responsible for the murder of around 3,000 people during the 1984 riots, be called role models?' Majithia asked. He added that if Hooda remained in the party after this remark, he would treat it as reflecting the personal mindset of Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi.
SAD leader Daljeet Singh Cheema said Hooda should have considered the impact of his words on millions whose homes were destroyed. 'People were killed, burned alive, and their homes were destroyed. When you glorify the life of such people in public, it causes a great deal of hurt to the Sikh community,' Cheema said.
Victims' Families Speak Out
Surjit Singh, president of the 1984 Anti-Sikh Riots Victim Welfare Society, said Hooda 'should be ashamed' and warned him against making such remarks, adding: 'We haven't still received justice.' Another individual who also identified himself as Surjit Singh, and described himself as a family member of a victim, said seven members of his family were burned alive during the riots. 'It is very unfortunate that Deepender Hooda is siding a criminal,' he said.
Political Implications
Majithia also questioned whether Punjab Congress president Raja Warring would respond to the controversy, saying it would reveal whether he 'has a backbone or not'. The episode reopens a long-running fault line between the Congress and the Sikh community over accountability for the 1984 violence — a wound that, according to victims' groups, remains unhealed more than four decades on. Notably, this is not the first time Congress leaders have faced criticism for their association with figures accused in connection with the riots.
Point of View
Yet senior leaders keep stumbling back into the same trap. The more revealing question is not what Hooda said, but whether the party's central leadership will correct the record or stay silent — because that silence, too, will be read as a position by the Sikh community.
NationPress
21 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Deepender Hooda say about Sajjan Kumar?
Congress MP Deepender Singh Hooda called Sajjan Kumar's death 'an irreplaceable loss for the country's political horizon', praising his connect with people across North India. The remark drew immediate condemnation from the SAD and 1984 riot victims' families.
Who was Sajjan Kumar and why was he in prison?
Sajjan Kumar was a former Congress MP who was serving a life sentence for his role in cases arising from the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, which broke out after the assassination of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. He died at Safdarjung Hospital in New Delhi.
How did the SAD respond to Hooda's remark?
SAD leader Bikram Singh Majithia condemned the statement and demanded an apology from Hooda and the Congress party. He also questioned whether the remark reflected the personal mindset of Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, and called on Punjab Congress president Raja Warring to respond.
What did victims' families say about the controversy?
Surjit Singh, president of the 1984 Anti-Sikh Riots Victim Welfare Society, said Hooda 'should be ashamed' and warned that victims have 'not still received justice'. A separate victim's family member, also named Surjit Singh, said seven members of his family were burned alive during the riots.
Why does the 1984 anti-Sikh riots issue remain politically sensitive?
The 1984 riots, which claimed an estimated 3,000 lives according to SAD leaders, remain a deeply unresolved wound for the Sikh community. Victims' groups say justice has been denied for over four decades, and any perceived glorification of those convicted or accused in connection with the violence draws immediate and intense backlash.
