Sajjan Kumar, Jagdish Tytler Will Campaign in Delhi, Says Congress

New Delhi: Rahul Gandhi's office today described as "absolute rubbish" reports that Sajjan Kumar and Jagdish Tytler - among his party's most controversial leaders -  will be on an important Congress committee for the Delhi election.

Both men were included in a meeting a week ago at the residence of Mr Gandhi, who is the Congress Vice-President. Later, the party said Mr Kumar and Mr Tytler will campaign for the Congress. "In a democratic country all persons are allowed to campaign," said Congress leader Shakeel Ahmed.

Mr Tytler and Mr Kumar are both accused of instigating anti-Sikh riots in 1984 in the capital and face court cases. 
 
The riots saw thousands of Sikhs being massacred after Mr Gandhi's grandmother, Indira, was assassinated by her Sikh bodyguards; she was Prime Minister at the time.

Both Mr Tytler and Mr Kumar have denied any wrongdoing in the riots that followed her death. 

President Pranab Muhkerjee today dissolved the Delhi Assembly, initiating the process for elections. Delhi has been governed by the Centre since February, when Arvind Kejriwal resigned as Chief Minister after a 49-day term as the head of a minority government.

In the last election in December, the Congress was relegated to third place after 15 years of running the government in Delhi. The BJP won the most seats but not a majority and opted not to take a shot at forming the government; Mr Kejriwal then took office with support from the Congress.

For the national election that was held in May, Mr Gandhi led the campaign for his party, which climaxed with the worst-ever result for the Congress.