Congress leader Jagdish Tytler (file photo)

1984 anti-Sikh riots: Akali Dal leader and former Punjab deputy CM Sukhbir Singh Badal today slammed Congress leader Jagdish Tytler for his recent interview to News 18 in which he said that former PM Rajiv Gandhi traveled with him across Delhi in 1984 when the dreadful anti-Sikh riots took place after the assassination of the then incumbent Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.

According to ANI, Badal said that Tytler has revealed that Rajiv Gandhi traveled with him across the city in 1984 which means that the then PM was supervising the killings and CBI must look into this as this is a very serious issue. Earlier today, Tytler said in an interview to News 18 that Rajiv Gandhi took several rounds of North Delhi with him to assess the situation in the wake of 1984 anti-Sikh riots. Tytler told New18 that Rajiv Gandhi had “recced the areas” in his car and was “extremely anguished” at Delhi Congress MPs, who were told to contain the situation in their constituencies.

Jagdish Tytler has revealed that Rajiv Gandhi traveled with him across the city in 1984. It means that the then PM was supervising the killings. CBI must look into it, very serious issue: Sukhbir Badal,former Punjab Dy CM pic.twitter.com/ADwloOmGZh — ANI (@ANI) January 29, 2018

However, Punjab CM and Congress leader Captain Amarinder Singh told ANI today that Jagadish Tytler’s revelation is not true.

No,this is not true: Captain Amarinder Singh,Punjab CM on reports that Jagdish Tytler revealed that Rajiv Gandhi took several rounds of North Delhi with him to assess situation in the wake of 1984 riots. pic.twitter.com/MXSE2mCJBi — ANI (@ANI) January 29, 2018

The Nanavati Commission, which submitted its report on Sikh riots in 1984, has named Jagdish Tytler as one of accused of organising the riots. Tytler was also accused of killing three Sikhs during the riots outside Gurudwara in Pulbangash area of Delhi north, which was also his constituency. While the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), till date, has failed to establish any charges against Tytler, several Delhi courts from time-to-time have pressed the agency for further investigation into his role.

The riots took place in 1984 after Rajiv Gandhi’s mother and then prime minister Indira Gandhi was assassinated while in office by her Sikh bodyguards in retaliation to Operation Blue Star. According to PTI, Tytler, who has denied any role in the riots, was given clean chit by the CBI thrice in the case, but the agency was directed by the court to further investigate into the matter. The victims had filed a protest petition challenging the CBI’s closure reports in the case. Subsequently, CBI now is calling for lie-detector test of Tytler. Earlier, he has responded to test by saying that he was ready for it, even though he was not legally bound to do so and only if agency admits that the successive clean chits given to him by the CBI were ‘mistakes’.