Sikhs protest against closure of 1984-riot case against Jagdish Tytler

Scores of Sikh activists staged a protest demonstration here today against the closure of the 1984 Sikh riot case against Congress leader Jagdish Tytler.

New Delhi, Sept 30 : Scores of Sikh activists staged a protest demonstration here today against the closure of the 1984 Sikh riot case against Congress leader Jagdish Tytler.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Saturday closed the case saying that most of the witnesses in the case are either dead or do not want to testify.

Angry protestors lashed out at the CBI decision.

"By closing the case they have betrayed the Sikh Community. They say they don't have evidence against him. I am ready to give evidence. I am ready to give copy of all the documents which were submitted to the Jain-Banerjee Committee, which was enquiring the riots," said Gurcharan Singh Babbar, President, All India Sikh Conference.

Tytler was appointed as Minister of State for Non-Resident Indians' (NRI) affairs after the Congress came to power in 2004, but he had to quit later.

Tytler has always denied the allegations levels against him saying, it was a political stunt by the opposition BJP.

Thousands of Sikhs were killed in one of the worst communal riots following the assassination of the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi by her Sikh bodyguards on October 31, 1984.

Congress leaders accused of leading the mobs have been absolved of the charges by lower courts.

ANI