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Centre rejects Phukan Commission Report : NDA, Fernandes on warpath |
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In a bid to checkmate the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), the Manmohan Singh Government has rejected the report of the Phukan Commission which probed the Tehelka expose into defence deals, while tabling it in Parliament on the last day of the Budget Session which ended on May 13. The Commission had cleared former Defence Minister George Fernandes of all wrong-doing in defence deals. At the same time, it has pulled up the Defence Ministry for misdeeds in virtually all the 15 deals it examined. In a note accompanying the Commission’s Interim Report tabled in Parliament, the Government said that the report is incomplete and bereft of reason. It said the Commission had not gone into the allegations of corruption involved in the defence deals. The Government note said that, “It does not consider this a satisfactory way of dealing with such serious issues. The Government, has, therefore, not found it possible to accept its findings in the absence of any inquiry into the allegations of corruption.” It regretted that the Commission could not finish its work in more than three years, and therefore, it was justified to have entrusted the inquiry into 15 transactions to the CBI for a thorough probe. Action will be taken after the investigation is complete.
The Government noted that the Commission repeatedly arrived at a similar conclusion in all the 15 cases, each time, “Mr. George Fernandes has no role to play in the transaction,” or, “there is nothing adverse on record,” or that he is “in no way involved.” Sometimes, it says, “the files were (not) placed before him, and that he “did not commit any illegality or irregularity.” “Sometimes, the Commission merely changes the language to break the monotony” and says he “hasn’t done anything contrary to the requirements” or is”in no way connected to the lapses.” One of the deals has nothing to do with Defence and in another case, the report says it was not brought to the Defence Minister’s notice.
While the Congress and the Left parties have welcomed the Government’s stand on the Phukan Commission Report, the BJP and the NDA have described it as “unprecedented” and a “witch hunt.” The Congress said that the report was “non-credible, partisan, and meaningless.” The CPI(M) said there would be no let up in its demand for action against George Fernandes.
Senior BJP leader Yashwant Sinha said the Government’s attitude is what he called “disgusting.” “It is the start of a witch hunt against a leader of the NDA.” Former Defence Minister George Fernandes targeted Congress president Sonia Gandhi alleging that “she was the mastermind behind the conspiracy to defame me.” On his part, Justice Phukan steared-clear of the controversy on the rejection of his report. “I have nothing to say”, he told newspersons.
Two days before the report was tabled in Parliament, George Fernandes justified the decision to make available an Indian Air Force plane to Justice Phukan for his trip to several places in Maharashtra. Fernandes said that if he had not provided the plane, he would have been accused of not cooperating with the probe. Justice Phukan had been attacked by the Congress and Left parties after it came to light about ten days back that he had used Indian Air Force aircraft and helicopters for visiting various places including Shirdi and the Ajanta and Ellora caves in Maharashtra as part of a visit to inspect gun systems.
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