'Words being put in my mouth': Hooda denies calling Sajjan Kumar a 'role model'

Congress MP Deepender Hooda on Sunday denied attributing the title of "role model" to ex-Congress leader Sajjan Kumar, following Kumar's death on August 20. Kumar was serving two life sentences for his involvement in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, which resulted in his death at the age of 80. When reporters asked Hooda if he had referred to Kumar as a role model, he stated that he neither used those words nor harbored such sentiments, alleging that they were being "put in my mouth" by political opponents seeking to undermine the spirit of brotherhood.

Hooda went on to express his long-standing support for the Sikh community, describing the anti-Sikh riots as a "grave injustice" and demanding strict punishment for those responsible. He reiterated the Congress' consistent stance in demanding justice for the Sikh community. Hooda's comments, which garnered mixed reactions across various political parties, drew condemnation from leaders within his own party, who described Kumar as a "murderer of Sikhs" and a "traitor", questioning whether Hooda's remarks reflected the true sentiment of the party.