Delhi Sikhs up in arms over CBI’s clean chit to Tytler

A clean chit to Jagdish Tytler, the alleged architect of anti-Sikh riots in 1984, may have “vindicated” the senior Congress leader’s stand in the contentious case, but the CBI decision has brought embarrassment to his party.

Soon after the CBI asked a local court on Thursday to cancel the case against Tytler, a leading Sikh body issued a “whip” asking members of the community to vote against Tytler, who was accused of inciting mobs during the’84 “genocide”.

Expectedly, the BJP, too, damned the CBI report and criticised the Congress decision to field Tytler from North-East Delhi.

“We were sure Tytler would get a clean chit because of his clout, but we have decided to vote against him. We’ll not let him win,” said Sardar Paramjit Singh Sarna, president of the Delhi Sikh Gurudwara Management Committee (DSGMC).

The CBI told the court it had completed the re-investigation against Tytler but did not find any credible evidence to link him to the killing of Sikhs during the ’84 riots. The CBI also said that although they had taken statements of 11 witnesses in the case, no one came up with conclusive evidence against Tytler.

Sarna said the Sikh committee would not take any stand against the Congress for now. “We think BJP is a bigger enemy of Sikhs because they pressurised Indira Gandhi to act against the Akal Takht. This is what LK Advani has written in his book,” said Sarna. A final decision on supporting the Congress would be taken on April 6 when the Sikh body meets.

HS Phoolka, counsel for the ‘84 riot victims, said, “It is strange that the CBI could not find anything against Jagdish Tytler. The agency is hand in glove with Tytler. It is also strange that Tytler knew details of the investigations and the fact that the CBI was readying to give him a clean chit even before the report became public.”

Tytler, however, claimed that the CBI report had finally brought out the truth. Calling the cases against him “attempts to harm my political career,” Tytler challenged Phoolka to come out with credible evidence to prove the allegations.

“Phoolka has authored two books on the 84’ riots and in both of them he has accused several Congress leaders of inciting the violence against Sikhs. Surprisingly, he has not even mentioned my name in these books,” Tytler said.