The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Tuesday held protests in Ludhiana, Jalandhar, Amritsar and Bathinda against the participation of BJP MPs Ramvir Bidhuri, Yogender Chandolia and Kamaljeet Sehrawat in a tribute event for Sajjan Kumar, who was convicted in a 1984 anti-Sikh riots case.
AAP leaders said the participation had caused distress among Sikh families and demanded that the BJP take action against the three MPs.
In Amritsar, protesters gathered outside the residence of BJP Rajya Sabha MP Tarun Chugh and attempted to gherao the premises. Police deployed personnel and erected barricades to prevent them from reaching the residence.
AAP MLA Jeevan Jyot Kaur said, “The 1984 massacre remains a deep and unhealed wound for Sikh families. Both the BJP and Congress
have repeatedly acted against the interests of Punjab and the Sikh community. How can BJP leaders honour a person whose name remains associated with the 1984 massacre?”
She added, “The participation of BJP leaders in Sajjan Kumar’s tribute is deeply hurtful to the families of the victims. The families who lost their loved ones continue to carry the pain of that tragedy, and their sentiments must be respected.”
In Jalandhar, MLA Balkar Singh said, “The 1984 pogrom left an extremely painful memory for the Sikh community. Innocent Sikhs were brutally killed, and their families have carried that pain for decades. At such a time, the participation of senior BJP leaders in Sajjan Kumar’s tribute demonstrates where the BJP stands on the issue of justice for the victims.”
In Ludhiana, AAP workers and local leaders also staged demonstrations. MLA Daljit Singh Grewal said, “Punjab is the land of the Gurus, saints and martyrs. Punjabis will not tolerate any attempt to undermine the pain of Sikh families affected by the 1984 massacre.”
Similar protests were held in Bathinda, where party workers demanded action against the three BJP MPs and said the sentiments of victims’ families should be respected.
AAP leaders reiterated that the party would continue raising issues concerning justice and accountability for victims of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots.
