A Delhi court's direction to the CBI to reopen the anti-Sikh riot case of the national capital against Jagdish Tytler has come as a blow to the opposition Congress in Odisha with the ruling BJD trying to take political mileage out of the issue.
Odisha was in no way linked with the 1984 anti-Sikh riots in Delhi, but the State Congress is targeted as Tytler happens to be its AICC in-charge and when the party began showing signs of resurgence in the wake of several issues against the BJD.
BJD vice-president Damodar Rout was quick to take up the issue and demanded immediate removal of Tytler from his Odisha responsibility. In fact, Tytler has been criticising the BJD Government and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik at the slightest opportunity.
However, OPCC president Niranjan Patnaik came to the rescue of Tytler. "The court has directed for reopening of the case. It has not convicted him," Patnaik remarked.
He has been undertaking State-wide tours to strengthen the party ahead of the general elections.