1984 anti-Sikh and 2002 Gujarat riots: AAP accuses UPA, NDA of "protecting" riots accused

New Delhi, Jun 4: AAP today hit out at the Centre and the previous UPA dispensation, accusing both of trying to "protect" the accused in 1984 anti-Sikh and 2002 Gujarat riots.

Both UPA and the current NDA government are not interested in ensuring justice to the victims and arms dealer Abhishek Verma's claims on Congress leader Jagdish Tytler getting clean chit raises further questions, AAP claimed.

"This casts aspersions on the UPA government as to whether it interfered with an independent agency like the CBI in this case. And we, therefore, demand a clarification from the previous dispensation on this," AAP MLA and senior party leader Jarnail Singh told reporters.

The party was reacting after CBI yesterday filed a third closure report, containing Verma's claims that Tytler had told him in 2008 that he had met the then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh after which he got a clean chit over his alleged role in an anti-Sikh riots case.

In his statement as a witness recorded by the CBI during a probe, Verma, an accused in the naval war room leak and other cases including cheating and forgery, has said that Tytler had also told him that a deal was struck and a hefty amount was paid to a riots case witness, who had deposed against him.

"The two governments trying to protect riots accused on each side. While the Modi government, which should have tried to bring justice to the 1984 riots victims, is allowing closure of the report.

"But, why is the Centre trying to protect men like Tytler, because if they do take actions against the accused, then Congress will demand action against the 2002 Godhra riot accused," Jarnail alleged.

"The party therefore demands that the clean chit given to Tytler be taken back," he said. The CBI said in its closure report said that Verma's oral evidence indicated that Tytler might have tried to influence witness Surinder.

However, the agency said the fact narrated by Verma could not be verified as Surinder Singh Granthi, the witness, has since expired.

Verma is at present lodged in a jail and his statement was recorded by CBI on August 5, 2013. The party also accused the Centre of "threatening officials" to not allow the Delhi government to function.

"After the Delhi Assembly elections, which practically wiped them out from the national capital, now they (BJP-led Centre) are insecure and do not want a democratically elected government to function," party spokesperson Ashutosh alleged.

"They are seeking a political revenge. But, we want to tell that Centre's diktat will not work in Delhi, whether it is through LG (Lt Governor) or otherwise," he claimed.

PTI