INDIA
Former MP chief minister had promised to delete two lines about pressure from Delhi on Warren Anderson’s bail — but he didn’t.
The Congress high command is livid with Arjun Singh, former Madhya Pradesh chief minister and ex-Union HRD minister, for hinting that pressure to grant bail to Union Carbide chief Warren Anderson came from the home ministry, then headed by PV Narasimha Rao.
In making a veiled reference to Rao’s culpability, Arjun Singh appears to have outsmarted finance minister Pranab Mukherjee, who was deputed by the high command to ensure that he did not make damaging statements. Singh had been categorically told by Mukherjee not to mention Rao or anything which can point to New Delhi’s role in the affair, but the wily Congress leader went ahead with his statement.
Arjun Singh had apparently promised Mukherjee that he would delete two crucial lines from his written statement to be made in the Rajya Sabha, as suggested by the latter. The text of Singh’s speech was shown to the high command before he was granted permission to speak on the Bhopal gas tragedy.
It was pointed out that even if he blamed Union home ministry officials for pressuring the state government to grant bail to Anderson, it would unnecessarily bring in the late Rao and indirectly point to Rajiv Gandhi’s tacit involvement.
Though the high command never liked Rao, it was not keen on naming him in regard to the Warren Anderson controversy as blaming Rao would merely create more controversies. In fact, the high command never wanted Arjun Singh to speak, considering the sensitivities involved.
But after Arjun Singh promised to make changes, he was allowed to speak. Minutes before Arjun Singh was to speak, a worried Mukherjee walked up to the last row in the Rajya Sabha where he was sitting. Arjun Singh even showed him his hand-written notes and promised to speak as discussed.
Mukherjee them conveyed to the parliamentary affairs minister Pawan Kumar Bansal that all was well. Bansal is reported to have conveyed to prime minister Manmohan Singh and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi that the issue had been sorted out. But what Arjun Singh spoke ruffled many a feathers in the party. But nothing could be done after he had spoken.
Union home minister P Chidambaram, who had been deputed to defend the government in the Rajya Sabha on Thursday, told party leaders that his task had been made more difficult. Though he put up a stout defence, he had to take shelter on a couple of occasions behind bland statements. “We have no records available in the home ministry”, he said about the Anderson affair.
He maintained that “there is a lack of facts” on the safe passage given to him. He also attempted to lob the ball back in the BJP’s court by claiming that such questions should have been asked in 2001 and not now, when most of the persons mentioned were not alive.
Congress spokesperson Jayanti Natarajan refused to comment despite persistent queries by newsmen who wanted to know why Arjun Singh blamed the home ministry for the safe passage given to Anderson.
SEBI's first reaction on Gautam Adani bribery case, begins inquiry into...
Meet Hyderabad girl who began NEET preparation in class 7, scored 99.9 percentile, secured AIR...
Badshah breaks his silence on dating rumours with Pakistani star Hania Aamir: ‘We have a lot of…’
Delhi pollution: Air quality deteriorates to 'severe' category in Delhi-NCR; AQI at 419
'I think bro is her EX': Man performs risky bike stunt with burqa-clad woman in Bangladesh, watch
Viral video: Little girl's power-packed dance to 'beer song' melts hearts online, watch
Explained: Why India must win the 1st Test against Australia in Perth
Raima Sen mourns Bharat Dev Varma's demise, pens emotional note for 'great father, great husband'
DNA TV Show: Ahead of Maharashtra poll results, MVA, Mahayuti engage in resort politics
Maharashtra: Stage set for assembly poll results; Mahayuti, MVA confident of their victories
All set for vote counting in Jharkhand tomorrow; NDA, JMM-led alliances confident of winning
Watch: Australia star inquires Rishabh Pant about his next IPL team, gets 2-word reply
Shah Rukh Khan’s house Mannat was first offered to his industry rival…, but he refused because...
The Visionary Who Promises a Blue Sky for India: Holger Thorsten Schubart’s G20 Climate Speech
The Surge of High-End Living: Luxury Residential Market to Outpace Other Segments
FeFCon 2024 to be Held in Bangalore: A Premier Event on Fever Management
'That’s wild': Noida man turns cigarette butts into teddy bears in viral video, watch
London Airport evacuates passengers over security threat, thousands stranded
The World’s First Innovative Iron Supplement to Combat Iron Deficiency and Anaemia
Meet grandmother who became fashion icon after trying on her granddaughter’s clothes
IND vs AUS: Rishabh Pant joins Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma in elite WTC list, becomes 3rd Indian to...
'All scripted drama...': Puneet Superstar allegedly assaulted by influencers in viral video, watch
Actress Ana de Armas caught kissing Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel’s son in viral photos
Oreshnik's Shadow: Will Russia's hypersonic missile force west to back down?
‘You’re So Beautiful’: World’s tallest woman meets world’s shortest woman over tea, pics go viral
Delhi-NCR Air Pollution: Consequences of GRAP-4 are drastic, may have adverse effects, says SC
Delhi-NCR Air Pollution: Schools likely to stay closed till..., check city-wise update
Maharashtra: 3 killed, 9 hospitalised after gas leak at fertiliser plant in Sangli
THIS farm is selling a cup of coffee for Rs 28000, but there's a twist, it is...
Chhattisgarh: 10 Maoists killed after encounter with security personnel in Sukma
Mukesh Ambani's SUPERHIT plan for Jio users, offers unlimited 5G access for 1 year for just Rs...
IND vs AUS 1st Test: KL Rahul's dismissal sparks DRS controversy in Perth Test
Dense fog, heavy rain predicted in these states till November 25; check here
Oreshnik Hypersonic Missile: Which nations are within its range?
Bihar teacher, principal reach school in drunken state; know what happened next
'I have faced a lot of...': Arjun Kapoor REVEALS his biggest fear amid break up with Malaika Arora
How millions of Indians may get affected due to US indictment of Gautam Adani in bribery case
Amid divorce rumours with Aishwarya Rai, Abhishek Bachchan says 'missing someone is okay but...'
After Bibles, watches and sneakers, Donald Trump is now selling autographed guitars, price is...
Delhi pollution: Air quality improves to ‘very poor’ category, AQI at...
Vladimir Putin's BIG threat, warns he could strike UK with new ballistic missile if...
Shillong Teer Results TODAY November 22, 2024 Live Updates: Check winning numbers here