Am not a court, but Tytler was not involved in 1984 riots: Amarinder Singh

Amritsar: BJP leaders in Amritsar cancelled a scheduled press conference on Sunday to protest against Congress' Amritsar candidate Captain Amarinder Singh's remarks on Jagdish Tytler, the Congress leader accused in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots.

In an interview to NDTV, Captain Amarinder said, "Remember I resigned in '84. I was the first man to reach Delhi after the riots started and I stayed there...I met everyone including Sajjan Kumar, HKL Bhagat...except Jagdish Tytler...When did Tytler's name come up. It came up when he was fighting (the parliamentary elections) against Madan Lal Khurana in Delhi."

Though he accepted that the 1984 riots were a blot for the Congress, these remarks on Congress leader Jagdish Tytler also seems to have got the backing of the Congress party with Congress MP and junior minister Shashi Tharoor telling the media, "Capt. is right in saying so...there is no case against Tytler."

But despite a CBI clean chit to Mr Tytler, last year a Delhi court had ordered re-investigation of his role in the 1984 riots.

In 2009, following a huge public outcry in the capital, the Congress party dropped his name from its list of candidates for general elections.

This election too, after initially filing his nomination papers for the primaries held for the Delhi North East seat, Mr Tytler withdrew his name following talks with the party high command.

Many said the decision was taken to avoid an embarrassment for the party at a time of growing public anger against tainted politicians.

The opposition BJP lashed out with spokesperson Nirmala Sitharaman saying, "Instead of giving clean chits, why doesn't he do his homework on the riots and answer as to why leaders who protected the rioters are not being acted against. Even the US courts have issued summons for the Congress President that the media has reported she has refused to cooperate with. So why don't they come clean on this before sitting in judgement."

Though Jagdish Tytler has always denied any wrongdoing, these remarks from his party even as the 1984 riots continue to be an emotional issue is expected to fuel more controversy this election with more protests planned in the capital today.