New taint in Indian politics - Cong rejects demands for Tytler's resignation even after 1984 anti-Sikh riots report indicts Tytler, Sajjan
Balaji Reddy
Aug. 8, 2005

Eventually truth had to be let out. But Congress hangs on to its policy of closed-door politics overlooking tainted ministers in the Government. Union Minister Jagdish Tytler and Congress parliamentarian Sajjan Kumar are among those named in the GT Nanavati Commission report on the 1984 anti-Sikh riots for instigating mobs to avenge then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi's assassination by her Sikh bodyguards.

However, the Government's action taken report (ATR), tabled simultaneously with the main report in Parliament, virtually let all Congress leaders named in the Nanavati report off the hook, triggering Opposition fury.

Congress is stubborn about not allowing anyone touch its serious members and ministers even though they are tainted with all possible colors of corruption, criminal behavior and so on.

The commission report said it had credible evidence against Tytler and Sajjan Kumar, which led to demands for Tytler's sacking as Overseas Indian Affairs Minister and action against Sajjan Kumar.

While the Nanavati report accused the Congress leaders of "helping the mob" in the "organised attacks on Sikhs" and said there was a high probability Tytler had a hand in the violence, the ATR said action could not be taken on mere probability.

It also said then Lieutenant Governor PG Gavai could not escape the blame, stating that though Gavai did not appear to have delayed action, he did not pay as much attention to the law and order situation in Delhi.

The Nanavati report has indicted the then police commissioner SC Tandon, holding him directly responsible. The Government has reportedly agreed to take action against him.

The ATR points out that Tandon was removed a few months after the riots.

The Nanavati panel held local Congress units and their workers responsible for the carnage, and said seven First Information Reports were filed against Sajjan Kumar.

The report held Congress MP Dharam Dass Shastri, who has since died, directly responsible for the riots.

The Government's ATR sparked a political storm inside and outside Parliament, with the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) crying foul.

"The ATR report is just a cover-up job - four persons have been named in the Nanavati report and the Government has made it clear it will not take action on any of them," BJP MP SS Ahluwalia said.

Added another BJP leader Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi: "We knew from the beginning the Government's intentions were not honourable. Our suspicions were justified by this ATR."

National Commission for Minorities chairman Tarlochan Singh, too, blasted the ATR and bemoaned the plight of the 1984 victims who were yet to get justice after 21 years.

"The commission's effort came to nothing and the ATR is absolutely useless," Singh said. "The Government has no sentiment for the victims'' sufferings."

The commission was set up in 1999 by the previous NDA Government, the ninth such panel to probe the 1984 riots, even as victims and their families still wait for justice and accountability.

The panel cross-examined close to 200 witnesses and received at least 10,000 affidavits in the past four years before submitting its report in February.

According to a previous commission, at least 2,000 people were killed in the carnage that continues to haunt the Congress.

MORE ARTICLES >>