Hundreds Attend Condolence Meet for 1984 Riots Convict Sajjan Kumar in Delhi

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Hundreds of people, including political leaders and social representatives, gathered at New Delhi’s Talkatora Stadium on August 29, for a condolence meeting honoring former Congress MP Sajjan Kumar.

Political Figures and Community Leaders Attend Talkatora Stadium Gathering

Several regional political figures attended the Saturday gathering, according to a family-issued statement. Delhi Congress chief Devender Yadav was among those present at the venue to pay respects to the former parliamentarian. The event was organized by Kumar’s family following his death on August 20 at a Delhi hospital, where he had been transferred from Tihar jail after experiencing an altered sensorium. His cremation took place at Nigam Bodh Ghat on August 21.

During the event, Kumar’s son, Jagpravesh Kumar, addressed the assembled crowd. He stated to the attendees that he intends to continue raising public issues and serving the community, drawing inspiration from his late father. The gathering also drew representatives from various local religious and social organizations.

Fallout and Displeasure Within the Bharatiya Janata Party

The memorial service prompted immediate political reactions across New Delhi. Bharatiya Janata Party President Nitin Nabin summoned three party MPs from Delhi—Kamaljeet Sehrawat, Ramvir Singh Bidhuri, and Yogender Chandolia—to express formal displeasure over their visits to Kumar’s residence following his death, a party source stated.

Senior Supreme Court advocate and prominent community figure HS Phoolka publicly praised the party leadership’s stance on social media platform X.

Legal History and Background of the 1984 Riots Case

Sajjan Kumar’s legal history remains tied to the anti-Sikh riots that erupted across India following the assassination of then-Prime Minister Indira Gandhi on October 31, 1984. Delhi bore the brunt of the widespread violence, which claimed thousands of lives.

In December 2018, the Delhi High Court convicted and sentenced Kumar to life imprisonment for the killing of five Sikhs and the destruction of a gurdwara during the 1984 unrest. Following that ruling, Kumar resigned from the Indian National Congress. In February 2025, a separate Delhi court handed down another life sentence in connection with the killing of two Sikh men.

Before his legal downfall, Kumar built a long political career. He started as a municipal councillor representing Nangloi, later advancing to general secretary of the Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee. He won election to the Lok Sabha from the Outer Delhi constituency in 1980, 1991, and 2004.

At the time of his death at age 80, Kumar was dealing with significant health complications. Safdarjung Hospital records indicated a medical history characterized by high blood pressure and Parkinson’s disease. Medical staff noted that he suffered an altered sensorium on August 20 and failed to respond to resuscitation and life-support measures, passing away at 12:30 pm. Judicial proceedings regarding his medical parole plea for his ailing wife were scheduled before the Supreme Court on the day of his death but did not reach a hearing.

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