Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Punjab Media In-charge Baltej Pannu on Thursday criticised both the Congress and the BJP, accusing them of displaying a similar approach towards minorities, particularly the Sikh community, and failing to acknowledge the suffering of families affected by the 1984 Sikh massacre.
In a video message, Pannu referred to the reaction of Congress leaders following the death of Sajjan Kumar, who was convicted in a 1984 Sikh massacre case. He said, “Everyone saw the reaction of Congress leaders after the death of Sajjan Kumar, who was convicted by a court in the 1984 Sikh massacre case. Congress leader Deepinder Hooda even called Sajjan Kumar his ‘ideal’, although he later backtracked on the statement.”
Pannu said the BJP had at the time
attacked the Congress and Hooda over the remark, but alleged that the party had since displayed similar conduct.
“Now the real face of the BJP has also come to the fore. On the occasion of Sajjan Kumar’s final bhog, three BJP Members of Parliament were present. These included West Delhi MP Kamaljeet Sehrawat, South Delhi MP Rambir Singh Bidhuri and North-West Delhi MP Yogender Chandolia,” he said.
Questioning their priorities, Pannu alleged that BJP leaders had not visited Sikh families displaced during the 1984 violence or shared their grief.
“These are the same people who never went to the members of the Sikh community displaced in 1984, or visited their families to share their grief. But they have great sorrow over the death of Sajjan Kumar, who was convicted by a court,” he said.
Pannu further alleged that the conduct of both parties reflected a failure to understand the community’s suffering.
“Whether it is the Congress or the Bharatiya Janata Party, the conduct of both parties towards minorities has remained the same,” Baltej Pannu said.
