NEW DELHI, Aug. 11 (UPI) -- An Indian minister named in an inquiry into anti-Sikh riots in 1984 resigned after Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said he would act those accused in the case.
Jagdish "Tytler submitted his resignation to the ruling Congress party President Sonia Gandhi during a meeting at her residence after a daylong parliamentary debate on the report of Nanavati Commission's findings," said a Congress leader.
The Nanavati Commission, named for a judge headed it, was set up by the previous National Democratic Alliance government to investigate the 1984 anti-Sikh riots that erupted following the assassination of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi by her Sikh bodyguard; 3,000 Sikhs were killed in the violence.
The commission submitted its report to Interior Minister Shivraj Patil in January and the government presented the report to Parliament Monday. The Commission indicted Tytler, Congress lawmaker Sajjan Kumar and some police officials.
Singh gave in to opposition and left party demands for a fresh investigation against Tytler and Kumar.
"Tytler gave two letters to Sonia Gandhi, which were a note addressed to her and a formal resignation addressed to the prime minister," said The Hindustan Times Thursday.
"It was my duty to resign to save the PM, Sonia Gandhi and my colleagues from embarrassment," Tytler told reporters after meeting Gandhi Wednesday.
