Monday, November 14 2005 10:10 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Ahmedabad: Will the demise of former President of India K R Narayanan have any bearing on the proceedings of the Nanavati-Shah commission with regard to the letters he wrote to former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee about steps taken to curb post-Godhra communal riots?

No, said an advocate who is handling the matter and trying to get the Rashtrapati Bhavan to send the letters as evidence before the Godhra inquiry commission.

"The former President's death is unfortunate but the allegations he made will remain final as he had also acknowledged writing the letters to Vajpayee with regard to army deployment in Gujarat," Advocate Mukul Sinha, who has sought the letters from Rashtrapati Bhavan, told PTI.

"What Narayanan acknowledged will remain final as the Gujarat Government counsel did not even consider it important to cross-examine him to verify his important statements," the advocate, who represents Jan Sangarsh Manch, said.

"I had simply made an application to the former President via the Nanavati-Shah Commission and attached copies of his interview. He acknowledged making the statements and I suppose that his allegations stand," Singh said.

Taking note of the former President's acknowledgement to making the statements, the Commission had sought the letters he wrote but clearly ruled out that Narayanan could be summoned.

However, despite the Commission's request, the President's office refused to hand over the letters to the commission on the grounds of 'privilege' under section 74(2) of the Constitution of India.

Interestingly, even the Union Government had intervened in the matter in October and siding with the President's office, wrote a letter to the Commission stating that the documents should be protected under section 123 of the evidence Act.

Advocate Arvind Pandya, who represents the Gujarat Government, said, "Narayanan's death would have no bearing on the issue of the letters he wrote to Vajpayee and now the matter is over."

Pandya said there was no meaning left in even summoning for the ex-President's letters as his death indicated that the matter was closed.