Left out, how Cong readied axe for Tytler

The back-off signal came after Congress leaders—Mukherjee, Ghulam Nabi Azad and Ahmed Patel— agreed to two major Left conditions: initiate cases de novo against those mentioned in the report and unveil a rehabilitation package for victims.

In fact, Mukherjee was just picking up from where Sonia Gandhi let off last evening at the party’s core group where she is believed to have made it clear that there was a limit to what the Congress could take. Particularly after the CPM politburo’s statement and the Left line that they would vote with the Opposition on the adjournment motion.

On the Congress’ damage-control exercise, three factors may have played a key role: the Left stand, mounting ire among Sikhs and the middle class and epithets hurled at the PM (he was called a ‘‘gaddar’’ by some Sikh leaders). Then there was the PM’s own line that it would be difficult for him to continue— Tytler would have to go.

Besides, Intelligence agencies had warned that the situation could spin out of control in north India—it could revive the Akalis and have wider security ramifications for Punjab and Kashmir.

With Sonia backing the PM, the operation to persuade Tytler to quit was put into motion. Sonia’s political secretary Ahmed Patel met Tytler first. And by the time the PM met the Minister for NRI Affairs yesterday, his exit was sealed.

The question that remains: how did the Cabinet clear this ATR? Apparently, the PM and other ministers did not say anything at the meeting because among them was Jagdish Tytler.