Tuesday, August 9 2005 10:09 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: The Nanavati Commission, which probed the 1984 anti-Sikh riots in Delhi, has given a clean chit to the then Union Home Minister P V Narasimha Rao but indicted then Lt Governor P G Gavai and Police Commissioner S C Tandon for 'collosal failure' of maintenance of law and order.

"The Commission is of the view that there was no delay or indifference at the level of the Home Minister," the one-man Commission said in its report tabled in both Houses of Parliament yesterday (August 8, 2005).

Noting that some prominent members, who had met Rao during those days, carried an impression that the Home Minister was not that much responsive and sensitive as demanded by the situation, it said, "It appears that they carried that impression because of the style of functioning of the Home Minister."

The Commission said, "Rao appears to have kept himself informed about the developments in Delhi and had taken appropriate decisions and given necessary instructions in time."

On Gavai, the report has said, "Though he does not appear to have delayed taking of required actions, it does appear to the Commission that he did not give as much importance to the law and order situation in Delhi as the situation demanded."

Referring to Tandon, it said, "There was a collosal failure of maintenance of law and order as the head of the police force, he has to be held responsible for the failure."

It said that Tandon ought to have taken strict action against the defaulting officers immediately and ought to have given directions to be stricter with the crowds.