The Nanavati Commission on Thursday issued a notice to the United Progressive Alliance government asking it to clarify its stand regarding the letters of late former President K R Narayanan to Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee regarding the deployment of troops in Gujarat where large-scale riots had taken place in 2002. The notices were issued

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Thursday to the Secretary of the Ministry of Personnel and Public Grievances and Pension of the Union government after an application was filed in this regard by advocate Mukul Sinha.

The notice is returnable by January 2, 2006. In the application Sinha sought the Union government to make up its mind regarding Narayanan's letters as the government had earlier refused to hand over the documents when Rashtrapati Bhavan [Images] had referred the entire matter to the government for consideration. Rashtrapati Bhavan had, two weeks ago, replied to the Commission stating that it did not want any further communication concerning these letters and that the Commission could approach the Central government.

The President's office had previously refused to send the letters stating that the letters were part of the official communication and could damage public interest. Advocate Sinha, however, felt that the letters held vital information regarding the Gujarat riots and could throw some light on whether there was some possible government inaction in dealing with rioters.