1984 Anti-Sikh riots: Row over Amarinder Singh's clean chit to Jagdish Tytler

The Congress’ Amarinder Singh and the BJP’s Arun Jaitley, in fray in the Sikh holy city, targeted each other over this touchy issue, as Akali Dal workers protested against Mr Singh’s remarks outside the AICC headquarters in New Delhi.

The controversy erupted soon after the Congress candidate told a news channel that while other Congress leaders may be linked to the riots, Mr Tytler played no role in the violence. Mr Jaitley was quick to question this, saying the former CM was “trying to prejudge the guilt of a person who is perceived to be involved in the riots?” He went on to ask, “Is personal and political relationship more important to Amarinder than the interests of the victims?”

In the TV interview, Amarinder Singh had said, “I’m not the CBI, I’m not the court. I’m telling you what I saw and felt. I was in Delhi, I went to all the camps everyone I met took all these names that I have told you, except Jagdish Tytler. When did Jagdish Tytler’s name come up? It came up when he was fighting Madan Lal Khurana in Delhi, months later.”

But after a clarification on the matter Sunday, Mr Singh issued another clarification on Monday saying he had “not given a clean chit” to Mr Tytler. He said he had heard the names of other Congress leaders, like H.K.L. Bhagat, Lalit Maken and Sajjan Kumar, but not Mr Tytler, from riot victims living in the relief camps.

In New Delhi, meanwhile, the Akalis held a protest at the Congress headquarters over Amarinder Singh’s remarks. The police used water cannons to disperse them.