’84 report: Nanavati hands it over to Govt

Nanavati, while refusing to comment on even the nature of the report, said: ‘‘It’s upto the Government whether to make the report public and act on the findings and recommendations given.’’

The report is understood to have strongly commented on the manner in which the administration failed to act and prevent the riots. Sources also said that the Commission has made administrative suggestions on how to prevent a recurrence.

The report, say sources, has sought a review of some cases against Congress leaders which have been closed by the courts. According to senior Ministry officials a copy of the report and an action taken report is likely to be placed before the Parliament. Later tonight Home Minister Patil called on PM Manmohan Singh and reportedly briefed him about the contents of the report.

The Commission, was constituted on May 8, 2000 by the previous NDA government on the complaint of the Sikh community that the Ranganath Commission report, which was first entrusted with the task of probing the riots, had not investigated the same in totality.

The Ranganath Commission had only probed if the riots against the Sikhs were organised or not. The Commission had observed that it was beyond its terms of reference to inquire about the individuals involved in the incident.

During its four-year tenure, the Nanavati Commission recorded the statements of victims and witnesses, some of who accused Congress leaders and the administrative and police machinery for having instigated and protected the rioters. Prominent among the Congress leaders who deposed before the Commission included former PM P.V. Narasimha Rao, Vasant Sathe, Kamal Nath, Jagdish Tytler, Sajjan kumar and Dharamdas Shastri.