Bofors: The boom never stops
Bofors is back again in the news. This time CNN-IBN has exposed the Law Ministry's move in which they have given the Italian businessman Ottavio Quattorochi the clean chit. This while the CBI is still pursuing the case and has issued a red-corner notice against the Italian businessman. Bofors has haunted Congress for decades and somehow each successive Congress Government seems to have been caught with some aftermath of the case or not. The Congress continues to maintain their stand that the whole issue is politically motivated and that no evidence of corruption exists against the Congress or the Gandhi Parivar. But, if this is the case then why not let all investigating authorites investigate and then exonerate everyone involved. While no one argues on hoe good the Bofors guns are, let us not forget that it was the same “tainted“ Howitzers that made us win Kargil. But, by acting in such a covert manner, apparently the PM was not even informed of the Law Ministry's move, it does point a needle of suspicion towards the Congress and the “First Family”. Pressure has now been stepped up to show H.R Bharadwaj the door. The opposition is hunting for their next scalp after Natwar Singh. However, it seems unlikely that the Congress will give in to this demand as it will severly weaken the UPA Government.
Further, the Prime Minister's image has taken a continous spate of beatings in the past few months in office. I acknowledge the PM for his honesty, competence and clean image, however, the post of PM is a poltical one. And whether he likes it or not, his active involvement in political matters is a must. He cannot relenquish that authority to Sonia Gandhi. Even if he does, there has to be some accountability from 10, Janpath. This lack of a singular power is the reason ministers from the PM's cabinet feel free to make statements that need continous clarifciations from the PM. It is unhealthy for a democracy where the Prime Minister is a mere onlooer in the hullaballo of national politics around him. He was mum on Volcker, except in giving Ms. Gandhi a clean chit, he was silent on the Bihar dissolution, during the phone tap issue he only exonerated Ms. Gandhi again and now he is totally out of the loop in the Bofors issue. Its time for Mr. Singh to stand up and be counted or step aside.
Bofors is back again in the news. This time CNN-IBN has exposed the Law Ministry's move in which they have given the Italian businessman Ottavio Quattorochi the clean chit. This while the CBI is still pursuing the case and has issued a red-corner notice against the Italian businessman. Bofors has haunted Congress for decades and somehow each successive Congress Government seems to have been caught with some aftermath of the case or not. The Congress continues to maintain their stand that the whole issue is politically motivated and that no evidence of corruption exists against the Congress or the Gandhi Parivar. But, if this is the case then why not let all investigating authorites investigate and then exonerate everyone involved. While no one argues on hoe good the Bofors guns are, let us not forget that it was the same “tainted“ Howitzers that made us win Kargil. But, by acting in such a covert manner, apparently the PM was not even informed of the Law Ministry's move, it does point a needle of suspicion towards the Congress and the “First Family”. Pressure has now been stepped up to show H.R Bharadwaj the door. The opposition is hunting for their next scalp after Natwar Singh. However, it seems unlikely that the Congress will give in to this demand as it will severly weaken the UPA Government.
Further, the Prime Minister's image has taken a continous spate of beatings in the past few months in office. I acknowledge the PM for his honesty, competence and clean image, however, the post of PM is a poltical one. And whether he likes it or not, his active involvement in political matters is a must. He cannot relenquish that authority to Sonia Gandhi. Even if he does, there has to be some accountability from 10, Janpath. This lack of a singular power is the reason ministers from the PM's cabinet feel free to make statements that need continous clarifciations from the PM. It is unhealthy for a democracy where the Prime Minister is a mere onlooer in the hullaballo of national politics around him. He was mum on Volcker, except in giving Ms. Gandhi a clean chit, he was silent on the Bihar dissolution, during the phone tap issue he only exonerated Ms. Gandhi again and now he is totally out of the loop in the Bofors issue. Its time for Mr. Singh to stand up and be counted or step aside.
posted by Karan Thakur @ 8:35 PM
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