Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) national president Nitin Nabin has reprimanded three Delhi MPs for attending the condolence ceremony of former Congress leader Sajjan Kumar, who was convicted in cases related to the 1984 anti-Sikh riots. Ramvir Singh Bidhuri, Yogender Chandolia and Kamaljeet Sehrawat were summoned by Nabin on Friday and reportedly asked to explain their decision to visit Kumar's residence and attend the bhog ceremony following his death. The action comes less than six months before the 2027 Punjab Assembly elections, with the BJP seeking to strengthen its position among Sikh voters in the state. Party leaders have reportedly expressed concern that the MPs' presence at the ceremony could create political unease among sections of the Sikh electorate.

The three MPs represent constituencies in Delhi, but their actions have attracted attention because of the BJP's long-standing public position on the 1984 anti-Sikh violence and its support for families seeking justice. According to highly placed sources in the party, Nabin summoned the three Lok Sabha members and told them that they should not have visited Kumar's home in Peeragarhi, Delhi. The MPs have reportedly been directed to provide an explanation for their conduct. The BJP's response indicates the sensitivity surrounding any association with Kumar, who was convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment in connection with cases arising from the 1984 anti-Sikh riots.

The MPs' visit had already drawn criticism from senior BJP leader in Punjab HS Phoolka. Phoolka, who has represented families of victims of the anti-Sikh riots during their long legal battle for justice, publicly condemned the visit on Thursday. He described the decision by Sehrawat, Bidhuri and Chandolia to offer condolences at Kumar's residence as highly inappropriate given his conviction in the riot cases. Phoolka said the visit was particularly concerning because the BJP had consistently supported the victims and their families in their pursuit of justice. He pointed to the party's position that those responsible for the violence should face legal consequences and noted that the BJP had backed efforts that resulted in Kumar remaining in prison.

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“Sympathy should be reserved for victims and their families, many of whom continue to live with the horrors of those days,” Phoolka said. He also called for a boycott of the three MPs following their visit. Phoolka's criticism placed additional pressure on the BJP leadership to respond to the controversy, particularly because of the political significance of Sikh voters ahead of the Punjab election. His comments also reflected the sensitivity surrounding public gestures towards individuals convicted in cases associated with the 1984 violence, which remains a deeply contentious issue among survivors and affected families. The BJP's decision to reprimand the MPs suggests that the party leadership wants to maintain a clear distinction between its current political position and any actions that could be interpreted as expressing sympathy for Kumar.

The leadership's response also comes at a time when the party is attempting to expand its electoral footprint in Punjab and consolidate support among communities that have closely followed the long-running legal proceedings related to the riots. The episode has therefore developed into a political controversy within the BJP itself. While the three MPs' visit was presented as a condolence gesture following Kumar's death, the party leadership has made clear that such an association is viewed as politically and symbolically sensitive. With the 2027 Punjab Assembly elections approaching, Nabin's reprimand and the demand for explanations underline the BJP's effort to avoid any action that could alienate Sikh voters or undermine its stated support for the victims of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots.

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