New Delhi, August 27
Former National Security Adviser (NSA) Brajesh Mishra joined here today the band of BJP/ NDA functionaries attempting to nail Leader of Opposition L.K. Advani’s claims of ignorance with respect to the Kandahar hijacking episode of December 1999.

Mishra, who headed the PMO as Principal secretary under former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, told a TV news channel on Thursday that as the country’s Home Minister Advani was privy to the decision to send the then External Affairs minister Jaswant Singh with the released terrorists to Kandahar to secure the release of 166 hostages taken by terrorists in the IC-184 Indian Airlines plane.

All along Advani had claimed that he was unhappy with and ignorant about the decision to send Jaswant Singh to Kandahar to secure hostage release. Mishra exploded the myth, specifying that the decision was taken unanimously by the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS), comprising the then prime minister Vajpayee, home minister Advani, defence minister George Fernandes, external affairs minister Jaswant Singh and finance minister Yashwant Sinha.

Mishra’s revelations come a day after expelled BJP leader Jaswant Singh had made the same charge also accusing Advani of not telling the whole truth. Mishra has backed Singh’s claims.

Rebutting Advani's claims, Mishra said: “I am not going to get into anything that the then home minister Advani said. I will only draw your attention to the fact that key members of the CCS-George Fernandes, Jaswant Singh and Yashwant Sinha-have very clearly said he (Advani) was there.”

“A proposal was made in the CCS that Jaswant Singh should go and bring back the hostages and it was agreed by the CCS. Let’s put it more charitably, as George Fernandes said, ‘may be he has forgotten’,” the former NSA said. He emphasised that “The CCS took the decision that Jaswant Singh should accompany the terrorists to Kandahar.”

Immediately after Mishra spoke, Yashwant Sinha too came on record to back Mishra and Jaswant’s claim insisting that Advani was party to all key decisions pertaining to the hijacking of the IC-814 to Kandahar in Afghanistan.

Sinha said Advani was present at the CCS meeting on December 31, 1999: “The truth should be spoken. Advani must come out and clarify events. The CCS minutes of that day need to be examined for clarification. I completely back Brajesh Mishra on L. K. Advani. IC-814 is a matter of recent history, not a party matter.”

Earlier, Jaswant Singh had claimed in another TV interview that he decided as a soldier to take the flak for the Kandahar episode entirely on his shoulders. Singh had said, “I am sorry I did. I tried to cover it. I treated it as part of my continuing sense of commitment and loyalty,” he said.

Singh had said, “I announced it in the Cabinet. Yes, Advani was there, how can they (terrorists) be released from prison without the Home Minister consenting and signing pieces of paper?” he asked.

Mishra’s fusillade comes close on the heels of Arun Shourie’s scathing criticism of both Advani and party president Rajnath Singh. But insiders see a pattern insofar as almost all those who have spoken out against Advani were considered close to Vajpayee once-be it Jaswant Singh, Arun Shourie or Yashwant Sinha. As for Mishra, he has gone on record claiming that his association with the NDA/BJP was entirely because of his personal liking for and desire to serve Vajpayee.

Political observers, therefore, see a pattern in Vajpayee’s men coming out one by one and targeting Advani, soon after the BJP lost the elections and Advani decided to continue as Leader of Opposition in Parliament.

Interestingly, even though Vajpayee is supposed to be in fragile health, Jaswant called on him after being expelled from the BJP in Shimla on August 19.

This build-up against Advani at this juncture is also significant in the context of RSS chief Mohanrao Bhagwat publicly expressing himself in favour of Advani relinquishing the Leader of Opposition post. Bhagwat is planning a press meet tomorrow. Murli Manohar Joshi is reported to have held a long meeting with him, giving rise to speculation in the BJP circles that in event of Advani bowing out, Joshi could emerge as the dark horse for the post of Leader of Opposition.