Chandigarh, February 26, 2025 – Punjab Finance Minister and senior Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Harpal Singh Cheema on Wednesday accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of attempting to claim “false credit” in the high-profile 1984 anti-Sikh riots case involving Congress leader Sajjan Kumar. Cheema asserted that it was the Supreme Court, not the BJP, that deserved recognition for constituting the Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the case, dismissing the saffron party’s narrative as a political ploy ahead of upcoming electoral battles.
Addressing a press conference in Chandigarh, Cheema took aim at the BJP-led central government, alleging that its leaders were misrepresenting facts to bolster their image. “The BJP has no role in delivering justice in the Sajjan Kumar case. It was the Supreme Court that stepped in and formed the SIT in 2015 to investigate the 1984 riots cases. The BJP is simply trying to take false credit for something they didn’t do,” he said. The AAP leader’s remarks come amid renewed political sparring between the ruling AAP in Punjab and the BJP, its former ally in the state.
Sajjan Kumar, a former Congress MP, was convicted in December 2018 by the Delhi High Court for his role in the 1984 riots, which left over 2,700 Sikhs dead in Delhi alone following the assassination of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. The court sentenced him to life imprisonment, overturning a 2013 trial court acquittal, a decision widely hailed as a milestone in the long-delayed pursuit of justice. The SIT, constituted by the Supreme Court in 2015 and later reconstituted by the Modi government in 2019, has been credited with expediting investigations into several riot-related cases, including Kumar’s.
Cheema’s comments were in response to recent statements by BJP leaders in Punjab, who have highlighted the central government’s efforts to ensure accountability for the riots as part of their outreach to Sikh voters. Punjab BJP chief Sunil Jakhar had earlier claimed that the NDA government’s resolve had “brought closure” to victims’ families, a narrative Cheema dismissed as “baseless.” The AAP leader argued that the BJP was attempting to “rewrite history” for political mileage, especially with Punjab’s 2027 Assembly elections on the horizon.
“The BJP was in power at the Centre for years, yet justice remained elusive until the judiciary intervened. Now they want to paint themselves as saviors. Punjabis can see through this deception,” Cheema said, accusing the party of neglecting the state’s interests while exaggerating its contributions.
The BJP, however, hit back swiftly. State spokesperson Vineet Joshi defended the party’s record, stating on X, “The Modi government strengthened the SIT and ensured action against culprits like Sajjan Kumar. AAP’s desperation to deny this shows their own governance failures in Punjab.” The exchange has intensified the war of words between the two parties, which parted ways after the BJP exited the Shiromani Akali Dal-led NDA alliance in 2020 over farm law protests.
Political observers see this as part of a broader tussle for Punjab’s Sikh vote bank, where the 1984 riots remain an emotive issue. With AAP firmly in control of the state Assembly and the BJP seeking to expand its footprint, such controversies are likely to shape the narrative in the coming months. For now, Cheema’s sharp rebuke has put the spotlight back on the BJP’s claims, challenging its credibility as the justice debate heats up.
This story will be updated as reactions pour in from both sides.