"Congress always conspired to delay case": Senior advocate HS Phoolka on Sajjan Kumar's acquittal

New Delhi [India], January 22 (ANI): Senior advocate HS Phoolka, who represented the victims of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, on Thursday accused the Congress party of conspiring to delay the Sajjan Kumar case so that "the witnesses die themselves and the accused are saved," hours after the former Congress MP was acquitted by a Delhi court.
Senior advocate Phoolka further said they would appeal the Rouse Avenue Court's order to the Delhi High Court.
"The Congress has always conspired to delay the case so that the witnesses die themselves and the accused are saved, especially people like Sajjan Kumar. Even after all that, 5 people identified Sajjan Kumar and gave a statement against him, but despite this, the statements were not considered. We are going to appeal to the High Court," the senior advocate told ANI.
Recalling the harrowing experiences of the victims, Phoolka mentioned a minor, Gurcharan Singh, who was thrown off his father's truck and set on fire, staying bedridden for 24 years before passing away in 2008. Phoolka alleged inaction by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), saying that the agency at that point did not consider his statement.
"It is unfortunate that the people have been awaiting justice for so many years... In this case, a minor named Gurcharan Singh was thrown into his father's truck and it was set on fire. He stayed bedridden for 24 years with half burned body and died in 2008. He also gave a statement to the CBI of having witnessed Sajjan Kumar leading the mob, but since the CBI was investigating another case, they did not consider his statement," he said.
Talking about another victim who died before he could give a statement, Phoolka recalled how Harvinder Singh Kohli "demanded justice door-to-door."
"Another witness also demanded justice door-to-door, but finally, when the case was reopened in 2015, he died before he could give a statement," he added.
The Rouse Avenue Court on Thursday acquitted former Congress MP Sajjan Kumar in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots case linked to Janakpuri and Vikas Puri police stations.
The Janakpuri case pertains to the killing of two Sikhs, Sohan Singh and his son-in-law Avtar Singh, on November 1, 1984. The second case was registered in the Vikaspuri police station related to the burning of Gurcharan Singh on November 2, 1984.
Special Judge Dig Vinay Singh acquitted Sajjan Kumar after trying him in a case lodged by the SIT formed by the Central Government. A detailed judgment is to be uploaded by the court.
Following the verdict, the deep emotional wounds of the survivors were reopened, with the atmosphere outside the courtroom one of devastation and renewed resolve.
One woman, who lost 10 members of her family during the violence, broke down emotionally upon hearing the news. Her heartbreak was echoed by another victim who noted that 11 of their family members were killed.
"I lost 10 members of my family. Why is Sajjan Kumar not hanged till death?.. We will approach the Supreme Court...," she told ANI.
The survivors expressed a profound sense of betrayal by the judicial process, questioning why, after decades of waiting, the man they hold responsible was walking free. (ANI)