Rajiv Gandhi Supervised Killings During 1984 Riots, Says Sukhbir Badal; Punjab CM Amarinder Singh Rubbishes Claim

Tytler is accused in a case pertaining the death of three Sikhs- Badal Singh, Thakur Singh, and Gurcharan Singh - at Gurudwara Pulbangash in North Delhi on November 1, 1984, in the aftermath of the riots.

New Delhi, Jan 29: Former Punjab deputy chief minister Sukhbir Singh Badal on Monday said that former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi was supervising the killings during 1984 communal riots in Delhi. Citing veteran Congress leader Jagdish Tytler, Badal said that Tytler accepted Gandhi was travelling in the city during the carnage. He also demanded an inquiry by Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) into the matter.

“Jagdish Tytler has revealed that Rajiv Gandhi travelled with him across the city in 1984. It means that the then PM was supervising the killings,” ANI quoted Badal as saying.

Reports, citing Tytler, claimed that Rajiv Gandhi was travelling with him to monitor the situation after the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi’s mother and former prime minister Indira Gandhi. “Rajiv Gandhi recced the areas in the former’s car and was extremely anguished at party MPs from Delhi, who were told to go to their constituencies and contain the situation,” News18 quoted Tytler as saying.

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

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

Tytler, along with another Congress leader Sajjan Kumar is accused of leading a violent mob in North Delhi after the assassination. Sikh groups claim that at least 3000 victims lost their lives in riots post-assassination on October 31, 1984. He is accused in a case pertaining the death of three Sikhs- Badal Singh, Thakur Singh, and Gurcharan Singh – at Gurudwara Pulbangash in North Delhi on November 1, 1984, in the aftermath of the riots.

Earlier in October, a Delhi Court had appointed advocate BS Joon as Court Commissioner to observe the lie detector test of eye-witness Abhishek Verma in connection with the aforementioned case. Verma had filed a writ complaint with Delhi Police, requesting them to enhance his police protection following a death threat e-mail.

However, the charges were refuted by Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh. “No,this is not true,” said Singh.