1984 Sikh Riots: Former Congress MP Sajjan Kumar Sentenced to Life Imprisonment

In a significant development, former Congress MP Sajjan Kumar has been sentenced to life imprisonment for his role in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, which followed the assassination of then-Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. The verdict comes decades after the tragic events that led to the deaths of thousands of Sikhs across India.

Former Congress MP Sajjan Kumar, a close aide of Rajiv Gandhi and later Sonia Gandhi, has been sentenced to life imprisonment for his role in the 1984 Sikh genocide.

The wheels of justice have started moving. Several other senior Congress leaders, including one who was in the… pic.twitter.com/QYFQDUp6Gx

— Amit Malviya (@amitmalviya) February 25, 2025

BJP’s Amit Malviya Reacts, Calls It ‘Wheels of Justice Moving’

Reacting to the court's decision, Amit Malviya, BJP’s IT cell head, took to social media platform X (formerly Twitter) to comment on the judgment. In his tweet, Malviya emphasized that Sajjan Kumar was a close aide of former Prime Ministers Rajiv Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi and suggested that other senior Congress leaders involved in the Sikh genocide would soon face legal consequences.

"The wheels of justice have started moving. Several other senior Congress leaders, including one who was in the race to become Congress President, will soon meet their fate. The long arm of the law will catch up," Malviya stated in his tweet.

Sajjan Kumar’s Legal Battles

Sajjan Kumar was one of the key accused in the 1984 riots, particularly in the mass killings in Delhi. While some Congress leaders were previously convicted in cases related to the riots, Kumar managed to evade conviction for decades. However, the Delhi High Court had sentenced him to life imprisonment in 2018, overturning his earlier acquittal by a trial court.

With this latest sentencing, legal experts believe that justice for the victims of the 1984 riots is gradually being served. Many Sikh organizations and human rights groups have welcomed the verdict, calling it a landmark moment in India's judicial history.

The ruling against Sajjan Kumar may have significant political implications as well, with opposition parties intensifying their criticism of the Congress for its alleged involvement in the 1984 Sikh massacres. Meanwhile, legal proceedings against other accused leaders are still ongoing, with victims’ families hoping for further accountability in the years to come.