Himachal assembly by-polls: Congress announces candidates for 3 seats
The by-polls in six Assembly constituencies in the state are scheduled to be held on June 1 along with the Lok Sabha elections.
A Delhi BJP leader on Monday sat on an indefinite hunger strike against Kamal Nath being nominated for the Chief Minister’s post in Madhya Pradesh, alleging that the Congress leader was involved in the anti-Sikh riots.
Nath will be sworn in as chief minister of Madhya Pradesh on Monday.
Tejinder Pal Singh Bagga started his hunger strike at Tilak Nagar in west Delhi where several families affected in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots live.
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He had earlier announced to go on a hunger strike if Kamal Nath takes oath as CM.
Protesting the Congress’s move in selecting Nath for the chief minister’s post, he said, “I am sitting on an indefinite hunger strike against Rahul Gandhi’s decision to nominate him as CM. He (Nath) is the same person who was involved in the riots against Sikhs in Delhi.”
He said his hunger strike will continue till Nath is replaced by someone else as chief minister of Madhya Pradesh.
Several BJP leaders are supporting Bagga’s protest.
BJP leader and Leader of Opposition in the Delhi Assembly Vijender Gupta said the Congress has “hurt” Sikh sentiments by appointing Nath as chief minister.
After Kamal Nath was declared the new chief minister of Madhya Pradesh, a section of the Sikh community members denounced this and displayed posters alleging that the Congress supports 1984 anti-Sikh riot culprits.
Earlier in the day, in a huge victory for the anti-Sikh riot victims, the Delhi High Court on Monday convicted accused Congress leader Sajjan Kumar, while describing the mass killings as “crimes against humanity”.
Reversing the acquittal order of the trial court, the Delhi High Court sentenced Kumar to life imprisonment.
Read | Congress’ Sajjan Kumar convicted in 1984 anti-Sikh riots, sentenced to life in prison
Besides Kumar, Captain Bhagmal, Girdhari Lal and former Congress councillor Balwan Khokhar were also sentenced to life imprisonment. Kishan Khokkar and former legislator Mahender Yadav were sentenced to 10 years in prison.
The verdict was welcomed by the BJP, Shiromani Akali Dal and other non-Congress parties who called the conviction “a delayed vindication of justice”.
(With PTI inputs)
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