Chandigarh: BJP functionary H S Phoolka on Wednesday accused AAP of “playing politics with the victims of the 1984 anti-Sikh massacre” for electoral gains, pointing to the participation of AAP MLA Ram Singh Netaji in a condolence meeting for 1984 riots convict Sajjan Kumar.AAP in Punjab had on Tuesday protested against BJP MPs Ramvir Bidhuri, Yogender Chandolia and Kamaljeet Sehrawat for visiting Kumar’s family to condole his death. Phoolka said he had condemned the MPs’ visit on X and they were reprimanded by BJP national president Nitin Nabin the next morning.Phoolka questioned AAP’s “political hypocrisy”, saying its MLA had also attended a condolence meeting organised for Kumar.He also accused the AAP govt in Delhi of delaying additional compensation for 1984 victims. Phoolka said the Centre had sanctioned an additional Rs 5 lakh for each victim family in 2014 and directed states to distribute it.He claimed he repeatedly urged the Delhi govt to release the compensation but was told it could be given closer to the 2017 Punjab assembly election. Phoolka said he resigned from all party posts in Sep 2015 in protest and the compensation was subsequently distributed in Delhi on Nov 1, 2015.Phoolka also said he had resigned as Punjab assembly leader of opposition, a cabinet-rank post, to appear before the Supreme Court in the case against Sajjan Kumar. Had he not done so, he claimed, Kumar would not have gone to jail and could have continued in Parliament.
