Reopening of 1984 anti-Sikh riots case may end Jagdish Tytler’s career in politics

NEW DELHI: Wednesday's decision by a Delhi court rejecting CBI's closure report against Congress leader Jagdish Tytler could well mark the end of political career for the 69-year-old, who made several comebacks but could never wipe the stain of his involvement in the 1984 anti-Sikh killings in the capital. Tytler, then just 40, is alleged to have led a mob to kill Sikhs.

Denied ticket in 2009 after journalist Jarnail Singh hurled a shoe at the then home minister P Chidambaram against Congress's decision to give ticket to riot-tainted politicians, Tytler is already on the political margins. The occasional news he makes is in his capacity as the Congress high command's representative for states like Bihar and Odisha. The last time he had hit the headlines was when he was accused of inciting Congress workers to attack Odisha assembly. He dabbles in sports politics and has been at the helm of Judo Federation of India for years.

Tytler, the soft-spoken man known for his strong-arm tactics, cut his political teeth with the Youth Congress under Sanjay Gandhi. Popularly known as Sanjay Vahini, the Youth Congress was all about brawn and muscle that wreaked havoc on the streets of Delhi during the Emergency. While his political mentor died in an air crash, Tytler held on to his prominence in Delhi Congress, going on to a minister in the Narasimha Rao government.

For a man, born of a Hindu father and a Sikh mother, who became an orphan and was adopted by James Douglas Tytler, a Christian, lessons of compassion, piety and secularism took a backseat during the days one of the worst violence rocked Delhi. Though outwardly he retains closeness to J D Tytler; sports the same beard and even runs J D Tytler school.