Indian Politics is unpredictable. Leaders try every possible means to evade the noose of law. In the latest twist in this regard, Congress leader Jagdish Tytler has made some interesting revelations. A court has ordered reopening of cases against the Congress leader. All these relate to his alleged involvement in the 1984 Anti Sikh riots. However, the Congress leader has reacted sharply and pointed out that the witnesses are unreliable and all of them are speaking lies.
According to Jagdish Tytler, one of the prime witness Surinder Singh has changed his statement five times. The leader claimed that his name came in the case after Surinder Singh deposed against him. However, as per Jagdish Tytler, this witness first gave his statement in English and followed the same with a statement written in Gurumukhi. He also claimed that the lawyer HS Phoolka forced Surinder to write the statement.
Jagdish Tytler talked of using the Doordarshan footage to his advantage. He claimed that he was with the body of late Indira Gandhi that day and could not have been at the site of the carnage. The Congress leader also claimed that the second witness in the case, Jasbir Singh was a proclaimed offender and was in Jodhpur on the day, the carnage occurred.
However, the opposition parties are all set to make most of the occasion and question the wisdom of law in this case. Jagdish Tytler is intelligent enough to sense that opposition BJP is all set to raise this issue. Perhaps this has prompted him to point out that even BJP did not take action against him when they were in power.
CBI’s closure report had already given the Congress leader a clean chit and the Congress heavy weight leader was not expecting the case against him to reopen so soon. Perhaps this has prompted him to come up with statements that make little sense, given the strong opposition that he is facing on this issue.
However, the sad reality of Indian politics is that all major parties be it BJP or Congress, all have used communal incidents to their advantage. Congress might be finding it on the back foot on the Anti Sikh riot issue but BJP also comes under the scanner when one talks about the 1992 Babri mosque incident.
Leaders irrespective of political affiliation wash off their hands from these incidents in which sadly common man is the biggest casualty. The case of Jagdish Tytler is a sad reminder that when it comes to sidelining leaders embroiled in controversies, political parties decide to look the other way around. Same happened in case of Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi and none dared to speak against the leader. Those who raised voice against him, be it police officers or bureaucrats had to face the music.
One needs to arise to this reality and accept the fact that leaders who get entangled in such controversies should be dealt with seriously. Only then will Indian democracy be able to realize its true worth.
