HVK Archives: Indrajit Gupta turns introspective
Indrajit Gupta turns introspective - The Times of India
Times of India News Service
()
9 April 1997
Title : Indrajit Gupta turns introspective
Author : Times of India News Service
Publication : The Times of India
Date : April 9, 1997
Even as the United Front and Congress Party were on Tuesday all set
to hold formal talks to end the current political crisis, at least
one person in the government - Union home minister Indrajit Gupta -
appeared resigned to the eventuality of relinquishing office.
"I dare say, we will not be here after three or four days,"
remarked Mr Gupta, whose candid and off-the-cuff remarks in the
past have often landed him in severe trouble.
Mr Gupta held an informal chat with newspersons at his North Block
office on Tuesday. The meeting was essentially called to discuss
the urgency of introducing police reforms in view of the growing
misuse of the police apparatus by political parties, but it
appeared suspiciously like a farewell press conference.
It was also a day of candid confessions with the minister admitting
that his "experience in the administration had not at all been
happy." He agreed with media reports that he had been far too long
in the opposition, adding "I had no experience of administration
and I was given a difficult ministry like home affairs."
"We will not be here after three or four days. At least, I will
not be here but somebody else will be. Before we depart from the
scene, I thought I would communicate and place on record the need
and urgency for implementing police reforms," Mr Gupta remarked as
a matter of fact. Mr Gupta is learnt to have voiced similar
sentiments at the consultative committee meeting of his ministry on
Monday when he apparently indicated that this may well be his last
meeting.
Mr Gupta was in an unusually amiable and expansive mood as he
appeared more than willing to answer questions on subjects other
than police reforms for which he had specially called the press.
In fact, he responded patiently to queries ranging from the current
political crisis, his experience in the government, VIP security,
talks with Naga rebels and the controversial Dr Tanwar case.
His favourite subject, was, however, police reforms which he said
were urgently required as "the police has become a potent weapon in
the hands of the administration and growing political interference
in the functioning of the police."
As for the ongoing developments, the minister said though
discussions and consultations between the two sides are on, nothing
has emerged so, far. A solution, according to him, means a
compromise between the two opposing stands. "But anything is
possible in politics," he added.
For the present, lie said, the only common meeting ground between
the two sides is "to avoid an election." Even the BJP, he said, was
averse to going to the polls right now.
Regarding the Congress demand for the replacement of Mr Gowda, Mr
Gupta felt that "a change of leadership is always possible but it
depends on the circumstances and the timing." just because "Kesri
is shouting from rooftops about a change of leadership, we don't
have to immediately comply," he maintained.
As for the Dr Tanwar murder case, the minister disagreed that Delhi
police had arbitrarily closed investigations into it, stating that
all witnesses were interrogated and sufficient spadework was done
but these did not lead to any credible clues. As for reports
linking the Congress president Sitaram Kesri in this case, Mr Gupta
said though it was correct that Dr Tanwar's wife was provided a
jeep by the AICC, this fact is not enough to prove that anybody is
involved.
Back
Top
|
