Monday, August 8 2005 18:54 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Congress today (Aug 8, 2005) rejected demands for resignation of Union Minister Jagdish Tytler in the wake of the report of Nanavati Commission, which spoke of "credible evidence" against him in the anti-Sikh riots here in 1984.

"There is no indictment. No evidence. Not actionable", party spokesman Anand Sharma told reporters when asked whether the party felt that Tytler should put in his papers in view of the findings of the Commission, which were tabled in Parliament earlier in the day.

Replying to a volley of questions, Sharma contended that the Commission had "merely" said that Tytler had "very probably" had a hand in organising the attacks.

"There cannot be any prosecution under criminal law for probability", he said.

Sharma reacted sharply to BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) leader S S Ahluwalia's statement that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's image had taken a beating in view of the Nanavati Commission findings as Singh is Sikh.

"It is condemnable to drag the religion of the Prime Minister in this".

The Congress spokesman also pointed out that the Commission had made it clear that the ruling party as also its higher leadership was not involved in the incidents.