Archive · 1 Sep 2026
BJP, AAP Clash Over 1984 Riots and Justice Claims
The Aam Aadmi Party protested after three BJP MPs visited the family of Sajjan Kumar.
Kumar was a former Congress leader who died while serving a life sentence connected to the 1984 anti-Sikh violence.
AAP said the BJP should explain why its MPs made the visit.
BJP leader Kewal Singh Dhillon said the protests were mainly political.
He argued that BJP-led governments helped secure convictions and reopen riot cases.
He also said the Modi government transferred ₹5 lakh to 3,328 affected families.
Dhillon accused AAP of not keeping its promises to provide money, homes and jobs to victims’ families.
The BJP’s national leadership reportedly reprimanded the three MPs and distanced itself from their visit.
AAP protested BJP MPs’ condolence visit to Sajjan Kumar’s family after his death.
The BJP’s Kewal Singh Dhillon called the demonstrations politically motivated and defended his party’s record.
AAP leaders demanded that the BJP explain whether it stands with Sikh victims or Kumar’s family.
Dhillon cited convictions, reopened cases and ₹5 lakh transfers to 3,328 affected families.
The dispute also centers on AAP’s unfulfilled Punjab manifesto promises of aid, housing and jobs.
- Who
- Punjab’s Aam Aadmi Party and Bharatiya Janata Party leaders, including Kewal Singh Dhillon and several AAP legislators, are involved.
- What
- The parties are disputing a condolence visit by three BJP MPs to Sajjan Kumar’s family and their records on justice for 1984 riot victims.
- When
- The protests and BJP response occurred on Tuesday; Sajjan Kumar died last month, according to the article.
- Where
- Demonstrations took place at several locations in Punjab, including outside Tarun Chugh’s residence in Amritsar.
- Why
- AAP demanded an explanation for the MPs’ visit, while the BJP defended its actions on convictions, reopened cases and assistance to affected families.
Aam Aadmi Party
Bharatiya Janata Party
Meaning of the MPs’ visit
Aam Aadmi Party
AAP says the BJP must explain why its MPs visited the family of a convicted 1984 riot figure and clarify its position toward Sikh victims.
Bharatiya Janata Party
The BJP’s state response did not directly explain the visit, but its national leadership reportedly reprimanded the MPs and distanced itself from their action.
Record on justice and rehabilitation
Aam Aadmi Party
AAP focuses on the BJP’s association with the MPs’ visit and argues that the party’s position on the 1984 violence remains unclear.
Bharatiya Janata Party
The BJP says its record should be judged by convictions under BJP-led governments, more than 300 reopened cases and assistance to affected families.
AAP’s Punjab promises
Aam Aadmi Party
AAP did not immediately respond to Dhillon’s specific allegation that riot victims faced police action when seeking to meet Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann.
Bharatiya Janata Party
Dhillon claims AAP failed to fulfill its 2017 promises of ₹5 lakh assistance, housing and government jobs, saying affected families received no money.
- Trigger
- BJP MPs Ramvir Singh Bidhuri, Yogender Chandolia and Kamaljeet Sehrawat visited Sajjan Kumar’s family after his death.
- Sajjan Kumar
- The former Congress leader died while serving a life sentence in a case arising from the 1984 anti-Sikh violence.
- BJP response
- Kewal Singh Dhillon called AAP’s protests a government-sponsored political stunt and said the BJP had delivered justice.
- Reported party action
- BJP president Nitin Nabin reportedly reprimanded the three MPs, distancing the national leadership from their visit.
- Families cited
- Dhillon claimed the Modi government transferred ₹5 lakh each to 3,328 riot-affected families.
- Reopened cases
- Dhillon said more than 300 previously closed riot cases were reopened through a Special Investigation Team.
- AAP promises
- Dhillon said AAP’s 2017 Punjab manifesto promised ₹5 lakh, affordable housing and government jobs for affected families.