New Delhi, August 29, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Senior advocate and BJP leader H.S. Phoolka on Saturday criticised BJP MPs Kamaljeet Sehrawat, Ramvir Singh Bidhuri and Yogender Chandolia for visiting the residence of former Congress leader and 1984 anti-Sikh riots convict Sajjan Kumar to offer condolences following his death.
Phoolka also welcomed BJP President Nitin Nabin’s swift reprimand of the three MPs, saying their visit was contrary to the party’s longstanding position on the 1984 riots and its support for the victims.
The reaction came a day after Phoolka called for a boycott of the three MPs in a post on X, saying sympathy should be reserved for the victims and their families, many of whom continue to live with the trauma of the violence.
Speaking to IANS, Phoolka said the BJP’s position on the 1984 anti-Sikh riots had remained clear for decades.
“For the last 42 years, since this genocide took place, BJP has been standing up and supporting the victims in their battle for justice,” he said, adding that the party had demanded stringent punishment for those accused and supported efforts to secure justice for the victims.
Phoolka recalled that senior BJP leaders, including the late Arun Jaitley and Ravi Shankar Prasad, had appeared as counsel for victims in the Sajjan Kumar case. He also said the party had supported his own efforts to represent the victims.
He pointed to the Nanavati Commission, appointed during former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s tenure, after which cases were initiated against Sajjan Kumar and Jagdish Tytler.
Phoolka said Kumar was subsequently convicted and imprisoned and alleged that repeated efforts to secure his release were opposed by the BJP-led government at the Centre.
He also recalled the role of Solicitor General Tushar Mehta in opposing Kumar’s release during court proceedings.
Against this backdrop, Phoolka described the MPs’ condolence visit as “absolutely wrong” and contrary to the BJP’s position.
“That is why as soon as the party chief (Nitin Nabin) got to know about this, he took swift action and reprimanded the three MPs,” he said.
Phoolka questioned why the MPs had chosen to visit Kumar despite the BJP’s past efforts to ensure that he remained in prison and its demand for the strictest punishment in the case.
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