- News>
- India
Jaipal Reddy hits out at govt. on corruption
New Delhi, Aug 18: Accusing the NDA government of being scam-ridden, senior Congress member S Jaipal Reddy today said that the denial of CVC reports on defence deals to the PAC pointed to efforts at ``hiding the truth``.
New Delhi, Aug 18: Accusing the NDA government of being scam-ridden, senior Congress member S Jaipal Reddy today said that the denial of CVC reports on defence deals to the PAC pointed to efforts at ''hiding the truth''.
Speaking on the no-confidence motion in the Lok Sabha, Reddy said that there was no binding provision in the concerned rules against secret defence reports being produced. It was only the discretion of the government to do so on the grounds of national security, but there was no such binding provision in this case.
''Why should then the government deny the PAC access to the CVC report unless there is something to hide ?'' he asked.
Describing the Vajpayee-government as one which ''coronated corruption'' by re-inducting George Fernandes into the defence ministry after the Tehelka episode, Reddy sought clarification on the purchase of costly defence armours, including T-72 tanks which could not be taken to high altitude during the Kargil conflict.
Reddy, who dwelt more on the Tehelka issue during his speech to drive home his point against the ''nakedly corrupt and brazenly authoritarian'' government, said although the responsibility for the scandal lay on the government, Atal Bihari Vajapyee first made Fernandes quit to divert the people's attention and then rehabilitated him.
''Once Mr Fernandes returned to the cabinet, Tehelka became a George-centric issue. By doing this, the coronation of corruption in the government was complete,'' he said.
In an attempt to bare the government of its alleged indulgence in corruption, Reddy said while the heads of a few defence personnel rolled as a direct fallout of the scam and one of the officers in the PMO was removed, no politician or minister was touched nor any middleman approached by the CBI.
''Tehelka was a culture shock to the nation since it involved so many personalities,'' he said.
Describing the government as ''fascist'', he said Shankar Sharma, who had equity participation in the Tehelka company, was put into jail and a Tehelka reporter apprehended by the CBI on the purported charge of poaching.
Ridiculing Mamata Banerjee for her vociferous support to the Vajapyee government, Reddy pointed out that it was the Trinamool leader who had resigned as railway minister demanding ouster of Geroge Fernandes following the Tehelka furore.
He said that the present ministry was held together only by the chain of self-interest of the respective leaders, supporting one another on a reciprocal basis.
Bureau Report
''Why should then the government deny the PAC access to the CVC report unless there is something to hide ?'' he asked.
Describing the Vajpayee-government as one which ''coronated corruption'' by re-inducting George Fernandes into the defence ministry after the Tehelka episode, Reddy sought clarification on the purchase of costly defence armours, including T-72 tanks which could not be taken to high altitude during the Kargil conflict.
Reddy, who dwelt more on the Tehelka issue during his speech to drive home his point against the ''nakedly corrupt and brazenly authoritarian'' government, said although the responsibility for the scandal lay on the government, Atal Bihari Vajapyee first made Fernandes quit to divert the people's attention and then rehabilitated him.
''Once Mr Fernandes returned to the cabinet, Tehelka became a George-centric issue. By doing this, the coronation of corruption in the government was complete,'' he said.
In an attempt to bare the government of its alleged indulgence in corruption, Reddy said while the heads of a few defence personnel rolled as a direct fallout of the scam and one of the officers in the PMO was removed, no politician or minister was touched nor any middleman approached by the CBI.
''Tehelka was a culture shock to the nation since it involved so many personalities,'' he said.
Describing the government as ''fascist'', he said Shankar Sharma, who had equity participation in the Tehelka company, was put into jail and a Tehelka reporter apprehended by the CBI on the purported charge of poaching.
Ridiculing Mamata Banerjee for her vociferous support to the Vajapyee government, Reddy pointed out that it was the Trinamool leader who had resigned as railway minister demanding ouster of Geroge Fernandes following the Tehelka furore.
He said that the present ministry was held together only by the chain of self-interest of the respective leaders, supporting one another on a reciprocal basis.
Bureau Report