![\"Sajjan](\"https:\/\/static.toiimg.com\/thumb\/msid-133438304,imgsize-93679,width-400,height-225,resizemode-4\/rohtak-mp-deepender-hooda-.jpg\" "\\"Congress")
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nSenior Haryana Congress leader Kuldeep Sharma<\/a> on Sunday urged party president Mallikarjun Kharge to remove Rohtak MP Deepender Hooda<\/a> from the Congress Working Committee (CWC). Sharma accused Hooda of praising former Congress MP Sajjan Kumar, whose death has reignited a political row over the 1984 anti-Sikh riots.Sharma, a former speaker of the Haryana Assembly, accused Hooda of \u201cextolling the virtues\u201d of Kumar as a role model, saying the remarks had caused resentment within the Sikh community and could hurt the Congress ahead of the Punjab polls.\u201cEver since Deepender Hooda, a permanent invitee to the CWC, issued a statement extolling the virtues of Sajjan Kumar, since deceased, as a role model, it has sent shock waves among the Sikh community,\u201d Sharma said in his letter to Kharge, PTI reported.\u201cA few of my Sikh friends from Haryana and Punjab called me to express their resentment over such an irresponsible statement,\u201d he added.Sharma said the remarks could affect the Congress’ support among Sikh voters.\u201cSuch a statement by Deepender Hooda on the eve of Punjab elections<\/a> has not only harmed the party\u2019s interests, but has opened the wounds of the Sikh community all over again. It is needless to say that the Congress had disassociated itself from Sajjan Kumar completely,\u201d he wrote.He urged Kharge to remove Hooda from the CWC, saying his \u201cimmature and irresponsible remarks have weakened the Congress, especially in the eyes of the Sikh community\u201d.Hooda, however, denied using the words \u201crole model\u201d or expressing such a sentiment. Speaking to reporters in Gurugram on Sunday, he said, \u201cI did not use the words, nor did I harbour any such sentiment. These words are being put in my mouth by those who wish to play politics by undermining the spirit of brotherhood.\u201d\u201cAs for the Sikh community, people know that we have always stood by them and supported them in every way,\u201d he added.Meanwhile, Punjab Congress leaders have also distanced themselves from Hooda’s remarks. Punjab Congress president Amrinder Singh Raja Warring said the statement reflected Hooda’s personal view.\u201cWhat Rohtak MP Deepender Hooda said, that may be his personal view,\u201d Warring told reporters, while stressing that the 1984 riots remained a painful chapter.\u201cDespite the passage of so much time, the trauma runs deep in people’s minds. As for Deepender Hooda said, that may be his personal view,\u201d he said.Former Punjab chief minister and Congress MP Charanjit Singh Channi was more direct in his criticism, saying Kumar \u201cshould have been shot publicly\u201d for his role in the riots.<\/p>\n Share your thoughts in the comments<\/p>\n<\/div>\n