New Delhi: The BJP on Thursday slammed the Congress for extending a special first-row invitation to Jagdish Tytler at the Indira Gandhi Memorial Prize Ceremony, calling it a shocking display of political patronage.

BJP National Spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla took to X (formerly Twitter) to criticise the Congress, saying, “Congress idea of ‘peace’ — they gave special first row invite to Jagdish Tytler at the Indira Gandhi Memorial Prize Ceremony at Jawahar Bhawan given by Sonia Gandhi. Jagdish Tytler has been constantly patronised by Gandhis because they hate Sikhs. Court has framed charges against Tytler for butchering Sikhs. Delhi HC said murder trial to continue against Congress leader Jagdish Tytler. But here first family patronises him. After all he only carried out the wishes of Congress leaders who justified the genocide saying ‘When a big tree falls…’”

Speaking to ANI, he said, "Congress is the biggest anti-Sikh party in the world. It hates the Sikh community. In 1984, they orchestrated genocide against Sikhs... They protected Sajjan Kumar and Jagdish Tytler. And now they are also promoting Jagdish Tytler, against whom charges have been paid by the court of law and against whom the trial has been assented to by the court of law. They have given him a first-row seat at the Indira Peace Award. This has been done at the behest of Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi because they hate the Sikh community. Today, the question should be asked: is this 'muhabbat ki dukaan,' or is this promoting 'nafrat ke bhai jaan'?”

Tytler, a former Union minister, has held several government positions, including Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Overseas Indian Affairs, a post from which he resigned following the Nanavati Commission report. The commission noted that he “very probably” had a hand in organising attacks on the Sikh community in Delhi after the assassination of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in 1984. He is currently serving as a permanent committee member of the Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee.

BJP national spokesperson Amit Malviya also criticised the Congress for giving Jagdish Tytler a prominent seat at the Indira Gandhi Peace Prize ceremony, calling it “a deliberate political signal.”

Malavya said, "...This deliberate gesture is not an accident. It is a reminder of how lightly the party treats one of India’s darkest, most traumatic chapters. The Sikh community must see this for what it is: a political signal that the Congress refuses to confront its own role in the 1984 massacre. History cannot be erased. Memory cannot be silenced. And accountability cannot be indefinitely denied."

The event itself saw former Chilean President Michelle Bachelet being conferred with the Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament and Development. The award was presented by Congress Parliamentary Party Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, who also chairs the Indira Gandhi Memorial Trust. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and jury chairman Shiv Shankar Menon were also present.