Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal has described as “shameful and shocking in the extreme,” the clean chit given by Capt. Amarinder Singh to Jagdish Tytler, who was among the “prime accused” in the massacre of Sikhs in November 1984.
In a statement issued by the Shiromani Akali Dal office, Mr. Badal took umbrage at a portion of Capt Singh's interview to a television network, where he “repeatedly and emphatically asserted” that Mr. Tytler had no role in the killings that followed the assassination of the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.
“Even your children and grandchildren will be ashamed of what you did and all the coming generations of your house will never be able to forgive you for this. Only you know the reasons behind this historic betrayal of an innocent and wronged community,” Mr. Badal said. He dared Capt. Singh to meet the hapless families and tell them that the killers were innocent.
Mr. Badal said Capt. Singh humiliated the departed souls . “Even the Congress party felt forced to deny a ticket to Mr. Tytler because of his role in the 84 massacre,” he added.
However, Capt. Singh charged Mr. Badal with misinterpreting his statement.
“I have only stated what I heard during my visit to the riot-hit areas and after meeting people there. Nothing prevents me from speaking the truth no matter how unpalatable it will be for people like Mr. Badal,” he said in a statement. Mr. Tytler had not been convicted by any court, he pointed out.
