Sikh protesters burn Rahul Gandhi effigy over Sajjan Kumar 'role model' remark
More than 200 members of the Sikh community, including families of victims of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, gathered near Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's residence in New Delhi on Saturday afternoon. The protest was held in response to remarks allegedly made by Mr. Gandhi describing the late Congress politician Sajjan Kumar as a “party role model.” Mr. Kumar, a former Member of Parliament, was convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment for his involvement in the 1984 violence. He died earlier that week due to health-related complications.
The protesters demanded a formal apology from Mr. Gandhi and his resignation, stating that the Congress leadership had insulted the families who had spent decades seeking justice for the victims of the 1984 riots. Raising slogans against the Congress and Mr. Gandhi, the demonstrators set fire to an effigy of the Congress leader and struck it repeatedly with slippers before the police intervened to disperse the gathering.
The protest took place amid heavy police deployment, with barricades placed around the area. According to police officials, the demonstration was unauthorised, and protesters were initially warned to leave. When some of them continued to cross the barricades, five to six people leading the demonstration were detained and taken to the Mandi Marg police station. Among those detained was Harmeet Singh Kalka, president of the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee.
Speaking after his release, Mr. Kalka expressed the community's anger. “The Congress party's real face has come out now. A man who was behind bars for eight years and was given a life sentence, for whose death sentence there had been demands, is now being called a role model by the party's leadership. This is deeply hurtful to the victims' families,” he said. “We decided to protest and demand an apology from Rahul Gandhi and his resignation over these remarks.”
New Delhi Deputy Commissioner of Police Sachin Sharma confirmed that a case has been registered against those detained. “The protest was organised illegally near Mr. Gandhi's residence. The protesters were warned, but they continued to cross the barricades,” he said.
The death of Mr. Kumar, who was one of the most prominent political figures accused in connection with the 1984 anti-Sikh violence, has revived tensions surrounding the massacre. He had spent nearly eight years in Tihar jail after being convicted in a riot case. In 2018, the Delhi High Court overturned a trial court's acquittal and sentenced him to life imprisonment. He died on Wednesday, just two days before the protest.
The 1984 anti-Sikh riots, which erupted after the assassination of then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, resulted in the deaths of thousands of Sikhs across Delhi and other parts of India. The violence has remained a longstanding source of anger among victims' families, many of whom have continued to demand accountability for those who orchestrated or participated in the killings. The Congress party has faced criticism over the years for its handling of the riots, though it has denied any institutional involvement.
At the time of writing, there has been no official response from Rahul Gandhi or the Congress party regarding the alleged 'role model' remark. The detentions and the ongoing case may further intensify the political debate in the coming days. The police have urged the public to maintain peace and have assured that necessary action will be taken in accordance with the law.
