Sajjan Kumar a 'murderer', 'traitor': Channi on Hooda's remarks

Former Punjab CM Charanjit Singh Channi slammed Deepender Hooda for calling 1984 riots convict Sajjan Kumar a 'role model'. Channi labelled Kumar a 'murderer' and 'traitor' who deserved to be shot in a public square for his crimes.

Congress MP and former Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi on Saturday strongly condemned the 'role model' statement made by party MP Deepender Singh Hooda for former Congress MP and 1984 anti-Sikh riots convict Sajjan Kumar, labelling the deceased leader as a murderer of the Sikh community and a traitor.

Channi asserted that Kumar was responsible for orchestrating the conspiracy behind the 1984 anti-Sikh massacres. The veteran Congress leader claimed he had previously demanded strict legal action against those responsible for the riots.

'Murderer of the Sikh community and a traitor'

"Sajjan Kumar is a murderer of the Sikh community and a traitor. He orchestrated the conspiracy to have Sikhs killed and massacred. He has been sentenced to life imprisonment twice. Back when I became Chief Minister, I demanded that he be taken care of. I told the Punjab government back then how ruthlessly these people had committed murder. This matter isn't just about the Sikh community; this individual has put humanity to shame," he said.

Channi stated that the atrocities committed during the 1984 riots, including killings and devastation, put humanity to shame and can never be forgiven by Punjab or the nation. "Thousands of Sikhs were murdered, tyres were placed around their necks and burned, their homes were entered and looted, letters were burned, this person is responsible for all of that," he said.

'Even taking his name is a sin'

Further, he sharply criticised any attempts within the Congress party to project Kumar as a role model, declaring that even uttering his name in such a light is a sin. "People in our Congress are trying to make him a role model; regarding them, I say that he is a murderer. For this person to even be considered a role model, even taking his name is a sin. If such people become role models, the country will be destroyed. This person didn't even deserve to be in a jail cell; he should have been shot right in a public square. But he died serving his sentence. he didn't just die anywhere; he died inside a prison, and he had maggots breeding on him there," he said.

Hooda's Remark and Kumar's Conviction

The remarks came after Hooda described Kumar in glowing terms following his death, saying, "Today, the country's political landscape has suffered an irreparable loss. He is cited as a role model nationwide."

Kumar, 84, died at Safdarjung Hospital on Thursday. Hospital authorities said he had a history of high blood pressure and Parkinson's disease and died at 12:30 pm despite resuscitation and life-support measures.

A former three-time parliamentarian, Kumar was convicted in cases related to the 1984 anti-Sikh riots. The Delhi High Court in December 2018 overturned his acquittal in the Raj Nagar case and sentenced him to life imprisonment. He had remained in jail since then.

In February 2025, a Delhi court awarded Kumar another life sentence in the Saraswati Vihar murder case involving the killing of Jaswant Singh and his son Tarundeep Singh during the 1984 violence. (ANI)

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