SAJJAN Kumar, Ex-Congress MP, Sentenced To Life Imprisonment For Riots During 1984-Anti –Sikh carnage By Delhi HC.Resigns From The Party

CONGRESS, India’s oldest political party, has suffered a jolt after the Delhi High Court has sentenced its former Member of Parliament and activist Sajjan Kumar, 73, to life imprisonment in 1984 anti-Sikh riots case. He has been found guilty for conspiracy to commit murder. The Delhi High Court reversed the judgement of his acquittal from a lower court and convicted Sajjan Kumar on Monday. The court has asked Sajjan Kumar not to leave the city and surrender by December 31, 2018.While reading the judgement, the High Court said, “In the summer of 1947, during partition, several people were massacred. 37 years later Delhi witnessed a similar tragedy. The accused enjoyed political patronage and escaped trial.”“It is important to assure the victims that despite the challenges truth will prevail and justice will be done,” the Bench said. He is found guilty of riots and murders post then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi’s assassination by her Sikh bodyguards on October 31, 1984 .Sajjan Kumar was then Member of the Lok Sabha from Outer Delhi .An estimated 2,800 Sikhs were killed in the violence of which 2,100 were murdered in Delhi. With Sajjan Kumar, Captain Bhagmal, Girdhari Lal and former Congress councillor Balwan Khokhar have also been sentenced to life imprisonment. Kishan Khokkar and former legislator Mahendra Yadav have been sentenced to 10 years in prison.( Image courtesy The Telegraph India)