New Delhi: Congress leaders Jagdish Tytler and Sajjan Kumar will not be contesting the Lok Sabha polls. The decision has been taken by their party. Both have been at the centre of the controversy relating to the November 1984 anti-Sikh riots.
Earlier, Jagdish Tytler was asked by the party to withdraw his candidature.
Speaking to mediapersons after the decision, Tytler accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Akali Dal of running a vicious campaign against him.
"A lot of damage has been done to me and my family," said Tytler.
"I will not pursue my candidature for this election. I have left it to Congress president to decide. I don't want to embarrass the party" he added.
He said that he was trying to meet Sonia Gandhi and said it was his moral responsibility not to embarrass his party.
The Congress leader also pointed that he got a clean chit from the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) even when BJP's prime ministerial candidate Lal Krishna Advani was the Home Minister.
Referring to witness Jasbir Singh, Tytler said that he was an offender in another case.
Earlier on Thursday, a Delhi court deferred its decision on the 1984 anti-Sikh riots case against Tytler.
The court adjourned the case till April 28, more than a week after the deadline for filing nominations for the Lok Sabha elections. This effectively meant that Tytler could still file his nomination for the polls.
Therefore, the pressure was on the Congress party to decide on Tytler's ticket, with Sikh groups intensifying their protests. Sources had told NDTV that Congress would decide on ticket to Tytler on Thursday.
Hundreds of Sikh protesters on Thursday also tried to storm the premises of the court hearing the case. Protesters burnt an effigy of Jagdish Tytler, and shouted slogans condemning the leader.
The protesters broke the barricades outside the court and climbed over gates, entering the court forcibly. They gathered at the court from 1984 riot-affected areas.
The CBI has in its report said the witnesses were unreliable and no one could confirm that they had seen Tytler instigating the mobs to kills Sikhs in 1984.
Reactions:
Jarnail Singh, journalist who hurled shoe at Chidambaram: "The decision must have been taken keeping public perception in mind. I'm happy if this comes as a comfort to victims' families."
Abhishek Manu Singhvi, Congress spokesperson and Rajya Sabha MP: "Our conscience is clean, Congress has done more for '84 than anyone else. We have criminally punished a large number of people. Poll careers of many people ended due to this. PM has given largest compensation package for '84 victims. I can assure you that a proper informed decision will be taken keeping in mind all public sentiments."
Jayanthi Natarajan, Congress leader: "There is no time frame as far as the Election Commission filing nomination is concerned. We already said on this issue that it is a congress party strategy and we'll take our decision let us see what happens."
H S Phoolka, Counsel for '84 riots victim: "We will petition against CBI director."
Sukhbir Singh Badal, Deputy Chief Minister, Punjab "It is not an issue of a ticket. The culprit should go to jail. Congress is giving him a clean chit. The public perception is that he is a killer. Under NDA we constituted Nanavati Community. The country wants justice. This will be a huge issue worldwide, not just in Punjab. Why is Congress so desperately backing him (Tytler) that too before elections? Candidature is not the issue, culprits should be put behind bars."
Shelia Dikshit, Delhi Chief Minister: "Delhi's Sikhs have supported us in the last three elections. That is why, Congress came back to power for the third time. Their support was also the reason behind Tytler's and Sajjan Kumar's win. But this issue has been politicised. The BJP and the Akali didn't have any other issue, but to question the CBI report."