Families of victims and Sikh leaders on Wednesday welcomed former Congress MP Sajjan Kumar's conviction in a 1984 anti-Sikh riots murder case, demanding the harshest punishment to him. Delhi Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Virendra Sachdeva and newly elected MLA RP Singh welcomed the conviction and credited the Special Investigation Team (SIT) for unearthing evidence that led to the verdict.

Kumar, 79, has been found guilty in a case involving the killings of Jaswant Singh and his son Tarundeep Singh in Saraswati Vihar on November 1, 1984. He now faces a maximum of death penalty and a minimum of life term in prison after being convicted on Wednesday by a Delhi court in a murder case stemming from the 1984 anti-Sikh riots.

Special judge Kaveri Baweja passed the conviction order and posted the arguments on the sentence on February 18. "Accused has been convicted. List for order on sentence on the next date of hearing," she said.

Following the verdict, Sachdeva said the conviction of Congress leader Sajjan Kumar and others by Delhi's Rouse Avenue Court for the 1984 anti-Sikh massacre has brought a sense of satisfaction and joy to Sikhs and justice-loving citizens across the country. Sachdeva emphasised that this verdict is the result of the SIT constituted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government to deliver justice to the victims of the 1984 massacre.

"In Saraswati Vihar, a father and son were burned alive. This happened because orders had come from Congress leaders. We thank Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah for forming the SIT, which brought the truth to light. We hope the court gives him nothing less than the death penalty," BJP newly elected MLA RP Singh said while reacting to the development.

Following the verdict, survivors and Sikh leaders expressed relief and demanded the harshest punishment for Kumar, saying what happened in 1984 was not a riot but it was a Sikh genocide. "Sikhs were systematically targeted and killed. We want the death penalty for him on the 18th (February) so that all criminals know that burning an innocent family should only be punished with death," Surjeet Singh, a victim from Trilokpuri, said.

 He said, "Members of my family were burned alive and I have been fighting for justice for 40 years. I was just 11 years old when this incident happened, and for two to three days, I remained hungry and thirsty.

 "Today, justice has begun, but the real justice will come when he gets the death penalty on February 18. The 1984 massacre was not a riot... It was a genocide. Sikhs were selectively targeted and killed," Surjeet Singh said.