New Delhi, March 28
The controversy over senior BJP leader L.K. Advani’s claim that he was unaware about Jaswant Singh accompanying terrorists to Kandahar in 1999 snowballed further as his former colleague George Fernandes has asserted that this decision was not taken unilaterally but by all ministers collectively.
Speaking at an interview to Karan Thapar on “Devil’s Advocate”, Fernandes insisted that the decision for Jaswant Singh, then external affairs minister, to accompany the terrorists to Kandahar was not take unilaterally by him but was supported by a discussion amongst ministers.
“Yes, all ministers were present” Fernandes said in the interview when asked if Advani was present when this decision was taken.
Jaswant Singh had accompanied Jaish-e-Mohammad chief Maulana Masood Azhar and two other terrorists to Kandahar who were freed in exchange for the passengers of the hijacked Indian Airlines flight IC-814.
Fernandes’ comments are in stark contrast to Advani’s account of this episode as contained in his recent autobiography and his recent interviews. Advani has clearly said that he was not consulted about Jaswant Singh accompanying the terrorists and only came to know when Jaswant Singh actually got on the plane. Furthermore, Advani has also said that the Cabinet Committee on Security did not take the decision to send Jaswant Singh.
Advani’s revelation has embarrassed the BJP as it has demolished its ongoing campaign against the UPA government for being soft on terrorists. Seizing this opportunity, the Congress has lambasted Advani and the NDA regime for its handling of the hijack in particular and terrorism in general.
Advani’s cabinet colleague, former defence minister Fernandes who
recounted in detail the decision taken by senior ministers of the Vajpayee government, has clearly stated in the interview that this decision was taken after a discussion between senior ministers and pointedly adds that “all ministers were present”.
Fernandes said there was a discussion amongst the ministers on the issue and replied in affirmative when asked if they decided that Singh should accompany the terrorists and it was not a unilateral decision. “Yes, I am sure, I am certain that was (the case),” he said.
Fernandes said he himself was present at the meeting. and when asked if senior ministers were present, he said, “Yes, all ministers were present.” Further, when asked if Advani, as home minister, was present at the meeting, he said, “Yes, all of us were present.”.
However, when Fernandes was asked if his answers meant that Advani’s recollection was faulty, he first attempted to alter his earlier answer and suggestd that Advani might not have been present “at that point”. But when pressed further, he agreed that it could be the case that Advani was mistaken and his memory was wrong.
“I don’t think that he was lying or anything,,” the NDA convener said in reply to a question.
