New Delhi, August 21, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Nirpreet Kaur, a survivor of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, on Friday put up a poster outside Congress MP Deepender Singh Hooda’s residence in Delhi, protesting his remarks describing the death of former party leader Sajjan Kumar as an “irreplaceable loss”.
The poster accused Hooda of glorifying Kumar and read: “IF SAJJAN KUMAR IS ROLL MODEL THEN WHO ARE CULPRIT..SHAME ON YOU DEEPENDER HOODA.”
Kumar, who was serving a life sentence in connection with cases arising from the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, died at a Delhi hospital on Thursday.
The controversy followed remarks by Hooda, who described Kumar’s death as an “irreparable loss for the country’s political horizon”. He also said Kumar had been a prominent figure in Delhi, rural Delhi and across North India, and referred to his connection with people.
Kaur was 16 when she witnessed her father being burnt alive by a mob near a gurdwara in Delhi’s Raj Nagar on November 1, 1984. Her father was the head priest at the gurdwara.
Following Kumar’s life sentence in 2018, Kaur had said outside the Delhi High Court that she had received justice after 34 years and that Kumar would go to jail.
The issue also drew criticism from the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and families of 1984 riot victims.
SAD leader Bikram Singh Majithia condemned Hooda’s remarks and demanded an apology from him and the Congress. He questioned whether Hooda would continue in the party following the statement and said Sikhs should understand the Congress’ position on the 1984 violence.
Surjit Singh, who said seven members of his family were burnt alive during the riots, also criticised Hooda, calling his remarks unfortunate and accusing him of siding with a person held responsible for the killings.
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