Thursday, August 11 2005 16:39 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: The main Opposition BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) and ruling UPA's (United Progressive Alliance) Left allies said Union Minister Jagdish Tytler's resignation in the wake of Nanavati Commission report on 1984 anti-Sikh riots was not enough and action should be taken against all indicted by the probe panel.

While Akali Dal (Badal) dismissed Tytler's resignation as "eyewash" Congress said it was "in keeping with the high traditions of sacrifice exemplified by the party and it was not a question of legal guilt".

BJP spokesperson Sushma Swaraj described Tytler's resignation as "too little, too late" and demanded Government prosecute all those named by various inquiry commissions into the riots in the last 21 years.

"It is too little, too late. The Government must take it to its logical conclusion," she said adding BJP and its NDA (National Democratic Alliance) allies would raise this demand vociferously in Parliament when it comes up for discussion tomorrow.

CPM (Communist Party of India Marxist) leader in Lok Sabha Basudeb Acharya, while welcoming the resignation as the "right step", said however this was not enough and action should be taken against all those named in the commission report.

Describing the resignation as a "step in the right direction", CPI MP Gurudas Dasgupta, however, demanded reopening of cases against another Congress leader Sajjan Kumar and all guilty police officials should be "hauled up".

CPI (Communist Party of India) Secretary D Raja said it had become untenable for Tytler to continue in office after Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's statement today in the Lok Sabha.

He said Government could not escape the responsibility of acting against police officials named in the report by saying they had retired.

Forward Bloc leader Debabrata Biswas described Tytler's resignation as a "good development" and said it took place as a result of the pressure mounted by Left parties. He demanded cases against Tytler and Congress Lok Sabha member Sajjan Kumar be reopened.

Abani Roy of RSP said Tytler's resignation will ensure that peace prevails in the country.

UPA constituent RJD (Rashtriya Janata Dal) spokesman Sanjay Paswan said Tytler has set a 'healthy precedent' by stepping down and others should also follow his example.

Congress spokesman Abhishek Singhvi said Tytler by quitting has upheld the party's tradition of sacrifice and moral values and his resignation was not a result of pressure.

He alleged Leader of the Opposition L K Advani and Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi were lacking moral values as their resignations were not forthcoming despite their roles in the Babri Masjid demolition case and the 2002 Gujarat riots.

JDU (Janata Dal United) spokesman Shiv Kumar said that resignation was a mere excuse and it cannot suppress the magnitude of a crime. He demanded punishment to Tytler and action against all those indicted in the Nanavati Commission report.

JDS (Janata Dal Secular) spokesman Danish Ali said that he should have resigned much earlier rather than waiting for so long and said that those indicted by the Sri Krishna Commission in 1992 Bombay riots should have taken similar step.