AAP calls for action against BJP, RSS leaders in 1984 riots

AAP leader and Tilak Nagar MLA Jarnail Singh on Tuesday called out the BJP, demanding justice against the BJP and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) leaders allegedly involved in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots.

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Jarnail Singh said Captain Amarinder Singh, who recently switched from the Congress to the BJP, and BJP’s Jangpura MLA Tarvinder Singh Marwah had both advocated for punishment of all those responsible, irrespective of party affiliation.

“It is often said, ‘Justice delayed is justice denied.’ After 41 years, the main accused has been sentenced to life imprisonment, but he is already around 80 years old and has lived a lavish life,” he said.

Jarnail Singh, whose constituency is home to many survivors of the 1984 massacre, said he had been inundated with calls from victims’ families expressing frustration. “The sentiment among them is that even after 41 years, the so-called justice they have received is merely the sentencing of an 80-year-old convict to life imprisonment,” he said.

“They had hoped that someone responsible for the massacre of thousands of Sikhs would at least be given the death penalty, not just life imprisonment,” he added.

Jarnail Singh also criticised the BJP for taking credit for forming the special investigation team (SIT) that secured Sajjan Kumar’s conviction. “I want to tell these BJP leaders that while it is good that an SIT was formed, a killer is a killer — whether they belong to the Congress or the BJP,” he said.

The AAP leader pointed to a 1993 FIR that listed 14 key individuals linked to multiple cases registered across police stations in areas such as Hari Nagar, Ashram, Sunlight Colony, and Bhagwan Dass Road. Among those named were alleged BJP and RSS leaders, including Ram Kumar Jain, Pritam Singh, Ram Chander Gupta, Ratan Lal and others.

“The BJP claims its SIT is delivering justice, so why has it not acted against its own leaders who were involved in the killings?” Jarnail Singh questioned.