Congress leader Kamal Nath has written to party president Sonia Gandhi requesting her to relieve him of the charge of Punjab in view of the controversy over allegations of involvement in anti-Sikh riots against him.

He also resigned as the party general secretary.

"Kamal Nath has tendered his resignation as AICC general
secretary. The Congress president has accepted it," party spokesman Randip Surjewala said.

Nath wants to be relieved to ensure that attention is not diverted from real issues.

'Have been hurt by developments in the past few days where unnecessary controversy has been created around 1984 riots,' Nath wrote.

"Till 2005 not single public stmnt or FIR was made against me and first time my name was mentioned in any forum was 21 years after 1984. This canard is nothing but a cheap political ploy to gain traction ahead of the elections," he wrote.

Earlier, the Aam Aadmi Party and the Shiromani Akali Dal had claimed that Nath was involved in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots in Delhi.

AAP leader H S Phoolka alleged that Nath was a part of the mob that attacked the Rakab Ganj Sahib Gurdwara in Delhi on November 1, 1984. Two Sikhs were also burnt to death in the attack.

The Congress leader dismissed it saying he was 'absolved' of all charges by the Nanavati Inquiry Commission.