After A Missing Link

The Vajpayee-Hinduja links first became the stuff of gossip when the PM chose to attend a Hinduja-hosted Diwali party in London at a time when the allegations against the brothers first surfaced. In the early '90s, the Hindujas had offered for scrutiny by Indian authorities one of their Swiss Bank accounts into which the payments were allegedly made (though reports later said the account was not related to Bofors). A senior Opposition leader at that time, on condition of anonymity, told Outlook: "The cbi was not keen on accepting the offer and communicated as much to Narasimha Rao. It was then that Vajpayee wrote to the PM suggesting that the offer be taken up. Either he thought it was a bona fide offer, or the Hindujas convinced him it was. In any case, there was an uproar in Parliament. One of Vajpayee's colleagues, who is a minister today, was very active in informing everybody."

The Hindujas have also helped bring Vajpayee's statesmanship to the fore, as at the UN Human Rights Conference in Geneva in '93. Around then, stories surfaced that Vajpayee had stayed with them. Says a journalist: "I called him to ask whether this was true, but he didn't comment."

But it was London again, in '95, that played host to the most revealing interaction between Vajpayee and the brothers. Vajpayee was part of a parliamentary delegation on board an eventful boat-ride down the Thames. Somnath Chatterjee of the cpi(m), who was also on board the Silver Dolphin, told Outlook: "We were under the impression that the excursion had been organised by our high commission; but suddenly the brothers appeared and took over the proceedings."

Chatterjee says he pointed out to the Hindujas, who were holding forth on the need for transparency, accountability and a consistent Indian economic policy, that the Silver Dolphin was not the best place to discuss these issues. "Vajpayee too was present throughout," says Chatterjee. And was not silent. He is said to have remarked to G.P. Hinduja: "How do we know what you brothers get up to?" In the dispute that followed, Vajpayee kept his own counsel. Close, yes. But perhaps not too close.

Vajpayee supporters have always scoffed at any "untoward ties". And the theory doing the rounds is that the PM, cut to the quick by Congress charges against him on the sugar and wheat imports, the new telecom policy and the Hinduja links, has decided to pursue the Bofors case to its logical end. In the process, the Congress has been rattled by the first chargesheet. While his government's clear indication that whoever figures in the sixth account papers - including the Hindujas - will be brought to justice blunts Opposition knives and keeps Vajpayee's slate clean. At least for now.