Sikhs stage protest outside Rahul Gandhi's residence over Sajjan Kumar remarks

Sikh community members staged a protest outside the residence of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in the national capital on Thursday, demanding an apology over alleged remarks made by senior party officials regarding Sajjan Kumar, a politician convicted in connection with anti-Sikh violence during the 1984 riots.

The demonstrators assembled carrying placards and raising slogans, seeking accountability from Mr. Gandhi and other Congress leaders for comments they claimed glorified or rehabilitated Kumar's image. According to protest organizers, the remarks were seen as insensitive to victims and survivors of the communal violence that claimed thousands of lives.

The 1984 anti-Sikh violence erupted following the assassination of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, resulting in widespread killings across several Indian cities. Kumar, a former Delhi legislator, was convicted in 2018 for his role in the violence, though he had maintained his innocence and challenged the verdict.

The protest underscores continued sensitivities surrounding historical communal violence and the treatment of those implicated in such events. The Congress party, which has faced periodic criticism over its handling of the 1984 riots, has not issued a formal response to the latest allegations at the time of reporting.

Sikh organizations have previously called for consistent accountability and dignified treatment of the violence's victims in public discourse and political narratives.