Court Defers Tytler Hearing amid Protests

The Karkardooma court on Thursday deferred hearing on a CBI plea seeking the closure of a 1984 anti-Sikh riots case against Congress leader Jagdish Tytler, thus providing the complainant and the CBI to make final arguments on the report.

Fixing the argument for April 28 and 29, the court said all evidence pertaining to the case needs to be analysed before taking a decision on the CBI’s final closure report.

Outside the court some 500 Sikh activists belonging to the Shiromani Akali Dal, All India Sikh Student Federation and the Khalsa Regiment held agitations to coincide with the hearing.

Demanding the non-closure of the case against Tytler, the placard waving activists raised slogans against the CBI for a recent clean chit to the Congress leader.

Anti-Sikh violence targeted the community with loot, arson and murder in the aftermath of then prime minister Mrs. Indira Gandhi’s assassination at the hands of her security personnel in 1984.

The protesters called for strict action against Tytler for allegedly inciting mob fury that resulted in the deaths of three people when violent rioters attacked Gurudwara Pulbangash on November 1, 1984, a day after Mrs. Gandhi was sprayed with bullets outside her office in New Delhi.

Substantial posse of Delhi police guarded the court premises to avert any untoward incident, especially as the clean chit to Tytler has incensed the community that has fought a long and unyielding battle for justice for over 24 years.

The CBI had on April 2 pleaded before the court for closure of proceedings against Tytler, citing lack of evidence.

The Congress had later nominated Tytler as a party candidate for the forthcoming Lok Sabha polls for North-East Delhi.

Meanwhile the Congress has, reportedly, decided to wait and watch before taking a final call on Tytler’s candidature, but if political pundits are to be believed striking his name off the party muster for the forthcoming parliamentary elections may not win-back Sikh votes for the party, as coming weeks ahead of the crucial poll battle the damage has already been done and irrevocable.

With protest fires spilling over into Punjab the Congress fearing a rout in the key state on Wednesday reportedly asked Tytler to withdraw from the parliamentary race.

Speaking earlier in the day, Tytler, however, refused t coment on the matter, saying he would react to the situation and reports only after the Court verdict.