The BJP on Wednesday welcomed the court direction to CBI to reopen the probe against senior Congress leader Jagdish Tytler in the 1984 anti-Sikh riot case saying it vindicated the Opposition charge about the CBI’s misuse to cover up the matter.
On the other hand, a defensive Congress adopted a cautious approach saying that till now there is no evidence against Tytler and parried questions about whether he will be relieved of his responsibility as in-charge of Odisha.“BJP welcomes this court decision...In a long awaited order the court has today said the case against Tytler should be reopened.
After 28 years, the sin committed by Congress operatives will be exposed. This was clearly a Congress sponsored massacre of Sikhs and there had not been a single conviction,” party spokesperson Nirmala Sitharaman told reporters. She alleged that the “one-sided massacre” had continued for five days in the national Capital and even longer in some other parts of the country.
BJP also alleged that this “sponsored massacre” took inspiration from late Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi who had said after Indira Gandhi’s death that “when a big tree falls the earth shakes”.
“No relief has been given to the Sikhs. We will probably see the process start now,” Sitharaman said. The BJP maintained that the Congress has remained silent all along on the involvement of its leaders and the Government’s inaction, but cannot afford to do so now. The party said the police and Army personnel had not reached on time during the riots.
However, Congress General Secretary Digvijay Singh came to Tytler’s defence saying that there is no evidence against him. Similar sentiments were expressed by spokesperson Renuka Chowdhury who said that it is an old matter in which the law will take its own course.
Questioned about the party losing its high moral ground to attack Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi for the 2002 riots, Renuka said that everyone involved in illegal conduct will face the consequence. She said that till it was conclusively proved that Tytler was involved in the riots it will be premature to comment on whether he will be removed as Odisha in-charge.
However, party sources said that when charge sheeted BJP leader Amit Shah could be included in that party’s Parliamentary Board then why should Congress take action against Tytler against whom nothing has been proved as yet.