Tuesday, May 3 2005 16:28 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Ahmedabad: Close on the heels of filing an application seeking to call former President K R Narayanan before the Godhra inquiry commission, an advocate today (May 3, 2005) filed an application seeking to summon former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Defence Minister George Fernandes before the probe panel.

An application was filed today before the Commission comprising justice (retd) G T Nanavati and justice (retd) K G Shah seeking to summon Vajpayee and Fernandes as the former President's remarks indicate that he had suggested "early deployment of Army in Gujarat" that could have prevented so many killings of minorities, the applicant advocate Mukul Sinha told PTI.

Sinha, a Gujarat High Court advocate, is heading "Jansanghrach Manch" a NGO which representing several riot victims.

Narayanan, who was the President when the post-Godhra communal riots occurred, had made statements before media persons in Kerala that "he had asked Vajpayee to deploy Army in Gujarat to control the communal riots."

The former President has also sent an acknowledgement to the Commission wherein he has admitted to having made these statements but he did not specify if he would appear before the commission to say the same.

"The application to summon Vajpayee and Fernandes is to find out the reasons behind the delay in deploying the Army in a communally-affected State," Sinha said.

The application is scheduled to be heard tomorrow.

Based on Narayanan's sudden remarks, Sinha had filed an application before the Commission seeking to get an acknowledgement from him about his remarks and if he would appear before the panel in this regard.

The ex-President had written back to the Commission on April 8 wherein he acknowledged that he had made the statements.

His acknowledgement is significant as the widened terms of reference of the commission deals with the role of the Chief Minister and the Gujarat administration during the communal riots.

Based on Sinha's applications, the commission has so far cross-examined several retired senior Gujarat police officials and bureaucrats, including the former Director General of police and ex additional Home Secretary.