1984 anti-Sikh riots: Sajjan Kumar resigns from Congress

Veteran Congress leader Sajjan Kumar on Tuesday submitted his resignation from the primary membership of the party.

According to the sources close to the party, Sajjan Kumar has written to Congress president Rahul Gandhi submitting his resignation from the primary membership of the party. “I tender my resignation with immediate effect from the primary membership of the Indian National Congress in the wake of the judgement of the hon’be high court of Delhi against me,” he said in the letter to Rahul Gandhi.

Notably, this comes a day after Sajjan Kumar sentenced for life for his involvement in the 1984 anti-Sikh riot. However, he decided to move Supreme Court challenging the verdict delivered by the Delhi High court.

At least 3,000 people were killed by mobs led by Congress leaders after the assassination of then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi by her Sikh bodyguards, in November 1984.

Many survivors and witnesses gave accounts of Congress leaders leading mobs targeting Sikhs, Sajjan Kumar is the first top rung leader of the party to be convicted in the case. Interestingly, the order comes on a day the Congress takes over three big states after its election victories last week.

Also Read: Delhi court gives Congress’ Sajjan Kumar life term in 1984 Anti-Sikh riots