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Jagdish Tytler (b. January 11, 1944) is a controversial Indian politician, several times a Union Minister, belonging to the ruling Indian National Congress party. He was the Indian Union Minister of State for Overseas Indian Affairs, a position he resigned from after an official commission of inquiry noted the 'balance of probability' indicated he was responsible for inciting and leading murderous mobs against the Sikh community in Delhi during the 1984 Anti-Sikh Riots, a charge he denies.

Tytler was born in Gujranwala (now in Pakistan), and adopted by a missionary and educationalist Rev. James Douglas Tytler.

Active in the Congress' youth organisation and a disciple of Sanjay Gandhi, he was first elected to the Lok Sabha in 1980. He served as a Union Minister first in the Civil Aviation department and then in the Labor department. He was re-elected in 1991 and served as the Union Minister of State for Surface Transport. In 2004, he was re-elected to the Lok Sabha.

1984

The official report of the Nanavati Commission of Government of India on the 1984 anti-Sikh riots found some 'credible evidence' against Tytler, saying he 'very probably' had a hand in organising the attacks. The Indian government, however, decided not to prosecute Jagdish Tytler due to lack of sufficient concrete evidence.

Tytler claimed innocence and said that the evidence was a case of mistaken identity. Tytler had not been named by eight earlier inquiry commissions setup to investigate the 1984 anti-Sikh riots. On August 10, 2005, his resignation from the Union Council of Ministers was accepted by the President of India on the recommendation of Prime Minister of India, Manmohan Singh.

On April, 2004 the Indian National Congress Party announced Sajjan Kumar, Jagdish Tytler, R.K. Anand and others allegedly involved in the anti-Sikh riots, as its candidates for Indian Parliament elections for constituencies in and around Delhi. These members of parliament were accused by several independent commissions of inquiry of being complicit in the riots, including the People's Union for Civil Liberties, the People's Union for Democratic Rights and the Citizens' Justice Committee.

The G.T. Nanavati Commission, which is now looking into the riots, continues to receive affidavits from victims with details of the activities of Sajjan, Anand and Tytler. Tytler became minister of state with independent charge of non-resident affairs, a post which he relinquished under duress, following the Nanavati Commission's report.

See also

1. H.K.L. Bhagat
2. Sajjan Kumar
3. Nanavati Commission

External links

• His website
• "United States Should Not Let Tytler Enter Country" Statement by New York Representative Edolphus Towns in US Congress.
• Jagdish Tytler
• "I am innocent: Tytler" - rediff.com article dated August 8, 2005
• Rediff Article on Tytler

• 1944 births
• Living people
• Indian politicians
• Indian National Congress politicians
• Delhi
• 1984 Anti-Sikh Riots
• Indian Christians