Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh [Images], while intervening on the debate on Justice G T Nanavati inquiry commission report on the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, said that it was a tragedy and a national shame.

"What happened, I say once again, was a national shame, a great human tragedy. Pray do not politicise a human tragedy," he said.

Without naming Jagdish Tytler and Sajjan Kumar, two Congress leaders who have been indicted by Justice Nanavati for their alleged role in the riots, Dr Singh said that the commission has said that it is probable that they have some involvement in some of the incidents and that there is evidence to this effect.

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"The commission is in itself not certain of the role of these individuals. As the action taken report says, governments cannot act when the commission itself is uncertain. However, there is something called perception and there is the sentiment of the House. The government respects and bows to that sentiment.

"Therefore, keeping in view the sentiments expressed in the House today, our government assures the House that wherever the commission has named any specific individual and recommended re-examination, the government will take all the possible steps to do so within the ambit of law," Dr Singh said.

He promised to wipe away the tears from the eyes of victims of 1984 riots and rehabilitate them in proper manner.