{
  "id": 2925864,
  "title": "1984 anti-Sikh riots: Hooda regrets Sajjan remarks after massive political uproar",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/24/1984-anti-sikh-riots-hooda-regrets-sajjan-remarks-after-massive",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-24T02:42:20.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Hindustan Times",
    "slug": "hindustan-times",
    "url": "https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/1984-anti-sikh-riots-hooda-regrets-sajjan-remarks-after-massive-political-uproar-101787510726826.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "In the aftermath of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, Congress MP Deepender Hooda has expressed regret over his comments regarding the death of convicted rioter Sajjan Kumar. The remarks, which described Kumar's passing as an \"irreparable loss,\" sparked a significant political controversy. Both Punjab and Haryana Congress leaders strongly condemned Hooda's statements, with some even calling for his removal from the Congress Working Committee. Kumar, who was a three-time former MP, passed away at the age of 80 on August 20, having served two life sentences for his involvement in the riots. Punjab Congress president Amarinder Singh Raja Warring and former Punjab chief minister Charanjit Singh Channi distanced themselves from Hooda's words, with Channi alleging that Kumar was responsible for orchestrating the conspiracy to kill Sikhs and not deserving of a jail sentence. In response to the uproar, members of the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee protested outside the residence of opposition leader Rahul Gandhi, demanding an apology from the party.",
  "summary": "Congress MP from Rohtak Deepender Hooda on Sunday regretted his remarks describing the death of 1984 anti-Sikh riots convict Sajjan Kumar as an “irreparable loss”—comments that triggered a major political row with party leaders from both Punjab and Haryana castigating him",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The Indian Express",
        "title": "Rohtak MP Deepender Hooda regrets Sajjan Kumar remarks, says words were twisted",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/23/rohtak-mp-deepender-hooda-regrets-sajjan-kumar-remarks-says-words",
        "published": "2026-08-23T11:50:24.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "NDTV",
        "title": "Deepender Hooda's U-Turn After Criticism Over Sajjan Kumar Remark",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/23/deepender-hoodas-u-turn-after-criticism-over-sajjan-kumar-remark",
        "published": "2026-08-23T11:51:01.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}