NEW DELHI, 11 August 2005 — India’s Junior minister in charge of non-resident Indian affairs Jagdish Tytler, at the center of a controversy after being indicted by Nanavati Commission that probed the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, tendered his resignation yesterday.

Tytler, who had met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh earlier in the day, handed his resignation to Congress party President Sonia Gandhi. “I gave my resignation to the Congress party president and asked her to forward it to the prime minister,” Tytler told a news conference, asserting he had not been involved in instigating violence against Sikhs in the wake of the assassination of then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in 1984. Nearly 3,000 Sikh died in the violence.

Tytler said it would not be proper for him to be a minister till his name was cleared.

“Why should I put my party in difficulty? I would want the charges against me to be probed quickly so that my name is cleared. So many people have probed the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, including the CBI (Central Bureau of Investigation) and the courts, but nobody has found anything against me,” he said.

The opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Left parties, who prop up the central government from outside, had mounted pressure on Tytler to quit after the report of the Nanavati Commission that had probed the 1984 violence was tabled in parliament Monday. The panel had said it had found “credible evidences” against Tytler of instigating mobs to violence after Indira Gandhi’s assassination.

The government, in its action taken report that was also tabled in Parliament Monday, said it could not proceed against Congress leaders named in the commission’s report on the basis of “probability”. Left party leaders said they had specifically demanded Tytler’s resignation to save the face of the government and keep the dignity of Parliament.

Earlier in the day, Manmohan said the government would do all that was possible within the ambit of law to act against those indicted for involvement in the anti-Sikh violence and re-examine cases, if necessary, against specific persons.

The promise by Manmohan came during heated debate on a report which said Tytler, “very probably” helped organize the riots.

Stating that the Nanavati Commission report on the 1984 riots had debunked “canards” that top Congress party leaders were involved, Manmohan also warned the opposition against driving a wedge between the Sikh community and the national mainstream.

“There were evidences against certain leaders, but the commission was not sure — but there is a perception and sentiment. Keeping in view the sentiment expressed in the house, wherever the commission has named a specific person we will reopen and re-examine the case,” Manmohan assured the Parliament. “The government will do all possible within the ambit of law. This is a solemn promise given to the house. We also solemnly promise to do everything possible to rehabilitate the victims and make an honest attempt to wipe their tears.”

Following Tytler’s resignation, chances are that the Congress will seek removal of Narendra Modi as chief minister of Gujarat. Justice Nanavati is due to submit his report on Gujarat riots and may come with strong recommendations against Modi government.

The Supreme Court has expressed its strong displeasure at the Gujarat government’s laxity in taking effective steps to nab the key accused in a massacre during the 2002 sectarian violence in the state.

A bench consisting of judges B.N. Agrawal and A.K. Mathur pulled up Gujarat police, saying they were acting in connivance with the accused wanted for killings at the Naroda Patiya complex in Ahmedabad or were “totally worthless”.