Indian minister quits over riots

The inquiry found "credible evidence" against Jagdish Tytler

An Indian cabinet minister has submitted his resignation after being implicated in anti-Sikh riots in 1984.

Jagdish Tytler aims to clear his name after an inquiry said he probably had a role in organising attacks on Sikhs.

Earlier, premier Manmohan Singh said those named in the report would be investigated. The opposition called for Congress members to be prosecuted.

The riots, sparked by the assassination of PM Indira Gandhi by Sikh bodyguards, left more than 3,000 Sikhs dead.

The inquiry found "credible evidence" against Mr Tytler and recommended further investigation into his role.

Mr Tytler, the minister for expatriate Indians, said: "I have not [resigned] under any pressure. I want to get my name cleared. I did not want to put my party in any difficulty."

Ninth commission

Mr Singh, India's first Sikh prime minister, had said his government would take all possible steps to investigate politicians named in the report and seek the advice of his law minister to punish all those found guilty.

The search for truth has to continue Prime Minister Manmohan Singh In pictures: Sikhs remember riots

He told parliament the inquiry had "found no evidence" that former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi or any high-ranking party leader had any involvement in the riots.

"Keeping in view the sentiments expressed in the house... that wherever the commission has named any specific individual or advised the reopening or re-examination of specific cases - the government will do so," he said.

The BBC's Sanjeev Srivastava in Delhi says questions remain over whether Mr Singh's announcement will satisfy an angry and hurt Sikh community and the opposition.

The report, by retired Supreme Court judge GT Nanavati, is the ninth inquiry commission into the riots, and was set up in 2000 by the then governing Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) which is now in opposition.

Opposition demand

Mr Singh acknowledged that many of the victims were still to receive justice 21 years after the violence.

"The search for truth has to continue. The [recent inquiry] is just the latest attempt," he said.

Earlier, opposition leader LK Advani had appealed to Mr Singh "to find out who was behind the carnage".

The 339-page Nanavati inquiry report was tabled in parliament on Monday.

It said that accounts from witnesses and victims of the rioting indicated that "local Congress leaders and workers had either incited or helped the mobs in attacking the Sikhs".

MPs from the BJP and regional Sikh party, the Akali Dal, said Mr Singh should resign because he failed to take action against those held responsible for the riots.