NEW DELHI—Senior Congress leader Jagdish Tytler, who is one of the main accused in 1984 Sikh genocide cases, today told a Delhi court that he was ready to apologize unconditionally to HS Phoolka, the representative of Sikh pogroms victims. Tytler is also accused in a criminal defamation complaint filed against him by HS Phoolka.
HS Phoolka has however refused to accept Tytler’s offer, maintaining any compromise in a serious matter like this would disseminate a wrong message to the people.
“The matter is of great importance and any settlement will send a wrong message among the people. I cannot settle the matter and any conciliation is not possible. I will not do this (settlement). Whatever you (judge) want, you may decide but settlement is not possible at all,” HS Phoolka told the court.
The court had asked HS Phoolka whether he was ready to settle the matter and accept the apology tendered by Tytler as “it is a defamation complaint and it has nothing to do with the riots.”
During the hearing, the court directed Phoolka to bring to fore the telecasted interview, in which Tytler had allegedly uttered words of defaming him, in the form of VCD/DVD so that it could go through it to reach reality. The judge said that it had transpired that part of the allegations were oral testimony, and part were in the form of transcripts in electronic video cassette. He said he had to examine the cassette and authenticate the transcripts.
“…The complainant (Phoolka) is directed to place on record the telecasted interview in the form of VCD/DVD and if it is not possible to get the original CD, then VCR should be brought or the video cassette on record should be converted into CD, a copy of which should be given to the accused,” the court said and posted the matter for further hearing on August 2.
