New Delhi, May 30
NDA convener and former Defence Minister George Fernandes has written to the Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, to order a time-bound inquiry into the “specific” matter of the purchase of usable caskets by the Army Headquarters.
Circulating copies of the two page-letter sent to the Prime Minister on May 26 at the party office here on Sunday, the Janata Dal (United) President said he had taken note of the Defence Minister, Pranab Mukherjee’s recent reply to mediapersons that he would look into scams if specific charges were brought to his notice. Reading out the letter to mediapersons, Mr Fernandes said, “I will like to be the first to demand an immediate and speedy inquiry into the ‘specific’ matter of the purchase of the reusable caskets by the Army Headquarters. The inquiry should not take too much time, say two weeks, since the material is easily available with the Army Headquarters and it will not be a cumbersome task to establish whether I or anyone else has made illegal money out of its stalled procurement.”
Mr Fernandes has drawn the Prime Minister’s attention to the constant attacks by the Congress, the Left and the Rashtriya Janata Dal, both inside and outside Parliament, on the purchase of reusable caskets by the Army to transport the bodies of martyrs from the battlefield to their homes.
“This vituperative campaign was a regular feature in their election speeches at all levels, particularly in areas adjoining our borders where there is a large population of ex-servicemen, and where our troops are stationed in large numbers. Much was made of the Comptroller and Auditor-General’s report in which some dissatisfaction had been expressed regarding the procedures and payments. This sort of query is routine in every department at the Centre or the states as well as known to anyone who has been in government and to the public who care to read such reports from time to time,” the letter reads.
The former Defence Minister has further requested the Prime Minister to ask the ministry concerned to inquire how the CAG’s report reached a national daily where it was twisted into a “scam” by the newspaper and the then Opposition before it recalled the President. “The issue of the demoralisation of our armed forces is something that should concern the entire nation.”
Mr Fernandes has reminded the Prime Minister that that the issue of the purchase of reusable caskets was raised during the no-confidence motion of July 3 in the Lok Sabha where he had given a detailed reply. “I had also challenged the entire Opposition to produce evidence within 24 hours if there was anything to establish that the Defence ministry or the Defence Minister had indulged in malpractice on account of this purchase. The records available demonstrate that the decision to purchase or expedite, to negotiate or to pay the supplier never came to the Defence Minister’s table for information or approval as the sum was so small that according to the procedures laid down earlier, it was not required to do so.”
Asked whether he agreed with a section of the NDA opinion that the Gujarat riots had led to the party’s defeat, Mr Fernandes said, “I haven’t thought about it. We should not get obsessed with a single issue. Persons who are talking about Gujarat are not interested in the growth of the nation.”
Mr Fernandes further said the NDA would hold a meeting on Tuesday to chalk out its floor strategy in Parliament. He said the NDA would be a very strong and united Opposition.
He said only the Congress and the Left parties have been talking about the Lok Sabha Speaker. “I first came to Lok Sabha in 1977 and the Opposition has always been consulted on the issue of naming a suitable candidate for the Speaker’s post. It is an accepted tradition to have the Deputy Speaker of the Opposition when the Speaker is from the ruling party.”
Mr Fernandes dismissed queries relating to his alleged involvement in the Tehelka episode and said there was no substance in the charges. “It is all in the air not on the ground. A person who can corrupt me is yet to be born.”
