NEW DELHI, Aug 8: An Indian minister was officially blamed on Monday for helping to fuel the 1984 anti-Sikh riots that followed the assassination of prime minister Indira Gandhi and left more than 2,700 people dead.

The Nanavati Commission, which has since 2000 been probing riot cases, said there was credible evidence against Jagdish Tytler, minister for the welfare of expatriate Indians, in organizing the riots.

The report also squarely blamed former Congress leader Dharamdas Shastri, who is now dead. It asked the government to take further action on cases against another Congress leader, Sajjan Kumar, that have already been closed.—AFP