84 riots: LG told to decide on CBI plea on Tytler

The Centre on Monday said the Delhi lieutenant governor had been advised to decide by month-end the Central Bureau of Investigation's request for prosecution of Congress leaders Jagdish Tytler and Sajjan Kumar, accused in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots.

"We have advised the LG to take the decision as early as possible. I will once again request that he must decide before the end of the month," Home Minister P Chidambaram told the Rajya Sabha.

The CBI has completed investigation or re-investigation of seven cases against Tytler, Kumar and late Dharam Das Shastri.

In four cases, the investigating agency has sought permission from the competent authority, the LG of Delhi, to prosecute the accused persons, he said.

Denying the charge levelled by Leader of Opposition Arun Jaitley that he was a "friend" of the accused, Chidambaram said, "I am not defending anyone."

The home minister was responding to a Calling Attention motion on the progress of relief and steps taken to punish the guilty involved in the anti-Sikh riots that claimed large number of lives 25 years ago following assassination of the then prime minister Indira Gandhi.