'The CBI Has Been Compromised'

The Prime Minister finally spoke in Guwahati. He virtually said nothing. While it isunderstandable that he chose Guwahati to read out a statement thus avoiding a grilling byDelhi's political media, he failed to respond to the basic questions. Was it with hisknowledge and approval that this operation was carried out? Does he have a view on thismatter? Was his briefing yesterday postponed from early evening to late evening so as toget the CBI to issue its bail out testimonials to the government? The Prime Minister'swillingness to submit to any illegality and impropriety has made a mockery of the officethat he holds.

The UPA Chairperson has instructed her party spokesmen to pursue the stand that theparty has nothing to do with this issue and it is for the government to provide theanswers. Does she forget that she alone is answerable for same basic questions?Quottorochi was her gift to this country. It is for her to answer how Quottorochi and AEServices secured the contract for Bofors. It is for her to answer why Bofors paid into theaccount of AE Services where 'Q' was the beneficiary.

The attitude of the CBI is disappointing. The CBI still has a charge sheet and a RedCorner Alert against Quottorochi. The CBI got the British accounts frozen. Quottorochicould not get a defreezing order from British Courts. The CBI has recently announced thatit would be sending a fresh Letter Rogatory to establish the source of funds in theBritish accounts. The Supreme Court had earlier in the day directed the CBI to maintainstatus quo ante. The CBI in the evening announced that it had no evidence againstQuottorochi. The evening statement of the CBI intended to bail out the government is adefiance of the Supreme Court's directions to endeavour to maintain the status quo ante.Where is the question of the CBI making an honest effort to get the withdrawn money backor the accounts refrozen if its first reaction is that it has no evidence againstQuottorochi?

Mr. Quottorochi says he has been vindicated. Is this a vindication? He absconded fromIndia when his 'beneficiary status' was discovered. He disappeared from Malaysia when theCBI appeal was to be heard the following day. The charge sheet against him is stillpending. He is a fugitive with powerful political friends. He refuses to come to India toface trial and now has the audacity to invite the CBI to Italy.

The Bofors Saga represents the total subversion of institutions. The Prime Minister'soffice has been discredited. The CBI has been compromised. The Law Minister has beenreduced to acting as an instrument for hushing up the case. The Congress has been renderedspeechless. India has been cheated. The BJP shall continue to protest against this.

Prakash Javadekar is Additional Spokesman, the BJP