Sajjan is back, Cong seeks his help for Rahul's rally

Veteran Congress leader Sajjan Kumar, also an accused in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, is back in business with the party’s city unit relying on him for pulling crowds for party vice-president Rahul Gandhi’s rally here on Sunday.

Kumar, who was reportedly sidelined for over five years by former Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit, was recently made a member of party’s campaign committee for parliamentary elections in Delhi.

On Friday, Kumar had visited the rally venue at Ramlila Ground in Dakshin Puri in Ambedkar Nagar area. “Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee chief Arvinder Singh Lovely, party MLA Haroon Yusuf and Sajjan Kumar visited the rally venue to give final touches to the preparations for the rally,” said a senior party leader.

Dikshit, now Kerala’s Governor, was never in favour of giving a party ticket to Kumar saying it could hurt sentiments of the Sikh community in Delhi. The veteran leader was also sidelined during major party functions and press conferences following Dikshit’s orders. Now, as the party needs a senior leader to get the crowds for Rahul’s rally, Kumar has been pressed into service. Considered as the strongest Jat leader of Congress in Delhi, Sajjan Kumar’s brother Ramesh Kumar is the sitting MP and the party candidate from South Delhi.

“Sajjan Kumar has addressed over 70 small and big meetings in South Delhi in the last two days,” he added.
The party leaders confirmed that Kumar will hold a series of public meetings on Saturday to attract people for the Rahul rally.

“Over 3,000 Congress workers have been given various responsibilities for rally preparations, and over 2,500 passes have been distributed,” the leader added.
Party’s state unit’s chief spokesperson Mukesh Sharma said arrangements for over 35,000 people has been made for the rally.