Congress ticket: Tytler throws ball into Sonia Gandhi's court

New Delhi, Apr. 9 (ANI): Senior Congress leader Jagdish Tytler on Thursday said he would abide by the party's decision on him contesting this year's general elections in the wake of the Sikh community's protest over his exoneration by the CBI in connection with the 1984 anti-Sikh riots in Delhi.

Tytler, who has contested and won three elections, chose to address a press conference to clarify his stand before the media and the public.

"There have been 12 commissions set up in the 1984 Sikh riots issue. Seven of them were set up under the Congress regime and five under the NDA regime. Not one affidavit was filed against me," Tytler said.

"There is no First Information Report (F.I.R) against me in any police station. The CBI only enquired on the basis of affidavits filed. There is no case, but an investigation on the basis of an affidavit. Had there been anything discovered, only then the case could be filed," Tytler clarified to the media whom he blamed for completely misunderstanding the whole issue.

Criticising the media for all the fuss and confusion created on the matter, Tytler claimed good support from voters in his constituency.

"If I would have fought even this time, I would have won be 200,000 votes. I have never lost from any Sikh area during elections previously," he said.

"I don't want to put the party, which has given me so much, in embarrassment. I will abide by the party president's order," said Tytler while adding: " I even don't know if I have got any clean chit till date."

Tytler announced that if the party decides that he should quit, he would accept the decision.

"I have left it to the Congress President. My heart says if it is not in the interest of the party, I believe I shouldn't' fight elections," said Tytler.

Senior Congress leader Anand Sharma said: "I think he has put forward his views quite clearly that he has not been involved in anything and he has felt hurt by the recent developments related to him in the last few days. Being a disciplined member of the party, he has left it to the party's leadership. It will decide over the issue." (ANI)