Ahmedabad: The Nanavati Shah Commission on Monday, asked the UPA Government to "apply its mind" and file a fresh affidavit seeking privileges for the letters written by former president late K R Narayanan to the then prime minister Atal Bihari Vaypayee, on the steps taken to control the Gujarat riots of 2002.
The Nanavati Commission was set up to inquire into the Godhra train carnage and the subsequent communal riots in Gujarat in 2002.
The Central Government is claiming privilege over the letters, saying the disclosure is likely to hurt the interests of the nation.
But the Commission has taken a strong objection and has observed, "Privileges being sought are not clear and so proper application of the mind is needed. The inference that could be drawn from the (government's affadavit) is that it is trying to hide something."
But the Government has responded by saying that they have nothing to hide.
Additional Solicitor General of India, Mohan Parasaran, said, "No, we are not hiding any facts. Earlier, we had filed an affidavit under the Evidence Act, we will now rephrase the affidavit."
Ironically former president K R Narayanan himself did not have any problem in providing the documents.
"We submitted that the application made no sense and that the central government must be directed to provide the papers. The commission has taken strong objection to the privilege claim of the central government," defends Advocate, Jansangharsh Manch, Mukul Sinha.
Meanwhile, the Commission has asked the Centre to file a fresh affidavit by February 4.
(With inputs from Meghdoot Sharon and Annirudhdh Maitra)
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