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Fernandes ready to face new affidavit

     Ahmedabad/New Delhi: Former Defence Minster and JD (U) chief George Fernandes today said that he was ready to face the fresh affidavit filed by the UPA government in the Supreme Court in which it has referred 23 more cases to the CBI. "I have not read what they have filed, but I am prepared for it. Let them do anything against me. I am prepared for anything........for me political vindictiveness is not new. Those against me have always tried to suppress me since my Emergency days. It does not affect me," Fernandes told reporters on the sidelines of a farmers' meet in Sarangpur. After the controversy over the virtual clean chit to the former defence minister, the Defence Ministry filed a fresh affidavit in the Apex Court on defence purchases during the Kargil war. The fresh affidavit said that the modifications of purchase norms did not violate procedures was interpreted by the media as a "clean chit" to the then defence minister Geroge Fernandes, currently the convenor of the opposition National Democratic Alliance.

     Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee said that his ministry filed a new affidavit as the first one did not "address all the issues." "Amicus curie observed that the counter affidavit which has been filed by the government does not address all the issues. Just at that moment the Attorney General pointed out that he will go through it and it is needed that an additional affidavit would be furnished. In that context, the additional affidavit has been given by the government," Mukherjee told reporters in New Delhi. Mukherjee further said that the new affidavit contained additional information as the issue didn't get proper attention at that time. "So in the first counter affidavit the Ministry of Defence pointed out what actions they have taken and when it was pointed out that all issues have not been responded then and there Attorney General pointed out that alright we will furnish the additional information. That's why we have given the additional information," said Mukherjee.

     After being accused of financial irregularities, Fernandes had written to the President and the Prime Minister asking that the matter be investigated. In October last year, the SC had issued a notice to the Centre asking what follow-up steps were being taken on the Comptroller and Auditor General's report on irregularities in the purchase of arms, ammunitions and other material during and after the Kargil war in July 1999. The Court said this while hearing a PIL alleging that the country had suffered a loss of 2000 crore rupees because norms were not followed in procurement of arms and ammunitions by the defence ministry during Fernandes' tenure.

Congress backs KS Sudarshan's remarks on Vajpayee (Go To Top)

     New Delhi: The Congress on Wednesday sought to derive political mileage over the discomfort in the Sangh Parivar over KS Sudarshan's controversial interview saying it agreed with the RSS chief's assessment that Vajpayee government was the 'worst' government the country had ever seen. Party spokesman Anand Sharma told reporters here that both the RSS and BJP-led Government were "equally responsible" for the state of affairs in the coalition led by Vajpayee as "its remote control was in Nagpur". Noting that the RSS was defining policy and giving direction to the government in a "brazen" manner during that period, he said after Sudershan's interview both the BJP and RSS were in total disarray. He said that in their efforts to control the damage, they have further confounded the confusion. "They are getting more exposed by the utter frustration". He steered clear of Brajesh Mishra's attack on the RSS chief who had accused the Principal Secretary to Vajpayee of being in touch with Sonia Gandhi. "I don't want to go into what Sudarshan said and Mishra's tribute to the RSS Chief on his depth and maturity".

Pak approves $1 bln to develop Khokrapar-Monabao rail  (Go To Top)

     Karachi: Pakistani officials have said that the federal government has approved around one billion rupees for developing the Khokhrapar-Monabao rail tracks on the Pakistani side of the border. According to the Daily Times, Pakistan's state minister for railways, Ishaq Khan Khakwani said that Pakistan railways had also made arrangements for other paraphernalia, like stations, coaches and facilities required for formally opening the rail link within the next six months. "The government has sanctioned around one billion rupees to develop the tracks, stations, coaches and other facilities required to formally open this important border between Pakistan and India. It is our principled decision to get it opened as early as possible and we are on right path to get the task accomplished," the paper quoted Khakwani as saying. He said that as the required sum had been sanctioned the border might be opened by October. He, however, said that the present metre gauge rail tracks from Khokrapar to the border would be developed in its present size as its conversion into broad gauge would require more time and money. Another important factor, he added was the economic viability of converting the tracks to broad gauge, as it was necessary to take the volume of traffic on this route into consideration before embarking on such mammoth exercise. "We have been given six months' time to complete our task, which does not allow us to go for broad gauge, because it needs more money and time. It will require huge sums and time and we'll have to see the traffic on this route," he added.

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