The Delhi High Court on Monday awarded life sentence to Congress leader Sajjan Kumar in 1984 anti-Sikh riots case. Kumar, who was earlier acquitted by a trial court, was found guilty of killing five Sikhs in Delhi’s cantonment area following the assassination of Indira Gandhi. More than 3,000 Sikhs were brutally killed in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots following Indira Gandhi’s assassination. Congress leaders Jagdish Tytler and Sajjan Kumar were accused of masterminding the riots. The judgment of the Delhi High Court was welcomed by several political parties, including the Siromani Akali Dal (SAD), the BJP and the AAP.
Here is how political parties and their leaders reacted to Sajjan Kumar’s sentencing:
AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal: I welcome Delhi High Court verdict convicting Sajjan Kumar in 1984 riots case. It has been a very long n painful wait for innocent victims who were murdered by those in power. Nobody involved in any riot should be allowed to escape no matter how powerful the individual maybe.
Also Read | Congress leader Sajjan Kumar sentenced to life imprisonment in 1984 anti-Sikh riots
BJP’s Ram Madhav: Justice to 1984 anti-Sikh riots victims finally. Congress leader Sajjan Kumar sentenced to life imprisonment by Delhi HC. Thanks to the efforts of HM Rajnath Singh and MHA for reopening the cases deliberately suppressed by the previous government.
Shiromani Akali Dal President Sukhbir Singh Badal: Congress conspiracy to target and massacre Sikhs is being unearthed finally with Delhi HC convicting Gandhi family right hand man Sajjan Kumar in 1984 Sikh Genocide case. This is direct result of PM Modi’s initiative to form SIT which reopened 1984 cases to ensure justice to victims.
Akali Dal leader Manjinder Singh Sirsa: We thank the court for giving us justice. Our fight will continue till Sajjan Kumar & Jagdish Tytler get a death sentence & Gandhi family is dragged to the court & put in jail.
Congress ideologue Tehseen Poonawalla: In 2012 it was the CBI under the then Congress government that made Sajjan Kumar as the main accused in the 1984 Sikh Genocide. I repeat , the CBI under UPA. Can we expect the CBI today to take a stand on 2002.
Watch Below: HS Phoolka celebrates Delhi High Court ruling outside te court premises
#WATCH: HS Phoolka and Manjinder Singh Sirsa celebrate outside Delhi High Court. The Court today sentenced Congress leader Sajjan Kumar to life imprisonment in 1984 anti-Sikh riots case. pic.twitter.com/tpPSgjvDjO
— ANI (@ANI) December 17, 2018