New Delhi, August 30: BJP president Nitin Nabin has reprimanded three party MPs from Delhi after they visited the residence of former Congress leader Sajjan Kumar to offer condolences following his death.
The MPs—Ramvir Singh Bidhuri, Yogender Chandolia and Kamaljeet Sehrawat—were summoned by the BJP leadership after their visit to Kumar’s family. Kumar, a former Congress MP, had been convicted in connection with the 1984 anti-Sikh riots and was serving life sentences.
The BJP has stressed that the MPs made the visit in their personal capacity and not as representatives of the party. Nevertheless, the incident has generated considerable political controversy, particularly because the BJP has historically highlighted the 1984 anti-Sikh riots and criticised Congress leaders over the issue.
The timing is politically significant as the BJP prepares for the Punjab Assembly election, where Sikh voters and the legacy of the 1984 violence remain important political issues.
Why it matters:
The episode demonstrates how politically sensitive the 1984 riots remain and highlights the BJP’s efforts to manage its position among Punjab’s Sikh electorate.