M A I N   N E W S

Stand-off over CVC report likely to continue
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, August 12
The stand-off between the ruling NDA and the Opposition over the CVC report on arms deals is likely to continue in Parliament tomorrow, with the government today turning down the demand for submitting it to the Public Accounts Committee, saying that there is no such report on Kargil purchases.

Meanwhile, former Chief Vigilance Commissioner N. Vittal told agencies on the telephone from Chennai that the Central Vigilance Commission report on arms deals did not go into Kargil purchases and supported the government’s decision not to give the report to the Public Accounts Committee.

A high-level meeting held at 7 Race Course Road, which was chaired by Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, firmly turned down the Opposition demand for a statement on the issue by Mr Vajpayee but agreed to a debate on it in Parliament and a reply by Defence Minister George Fernandes.

“When there is no such report, how can we make it public..... We can show the earlier CVC report to the presiding officers of both Houses,” Bharatiya Janata Party chief whip in the Lok Sabha V.K. Malhotra told newspersons after a 90-minute meeting, which was attended by Deputy Prime Minister L.K. Advani, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, Finance Minister Jaswant Singh and Mr Fernandes.

Prof Malhotra said the Defence Minister would make a statement in the House and “we can discuss the issue, following which he can reply”.

Asked about the Opposition demand for a statement from Mr Vajpayee, he termed it as “very ridiculous” and said the Prime Minister could intervene.

Accusing the Congress of raising a “baseless issue” to stall the House, he said there was no accusation against the Defence Minister by the CVC or anyone else.

Mr Fernandes would make a statement on the matter and that could be debated in the House, Mr Malhotra said.

Describing Public Accounts Committee Chairman Buta Singh’s statements as a “very serious matter”, he said the BJP had given a privilege notice against him.