HVK Archives: Wheels within wheels
Wheels within wheels - The Economic Times
T V R Shenoy
()
22 January 1997
Title : Wheels within wheels
Author : T V R Shenoy
Publication : The Economic Times
Date : January 22, 1997
Ant Schoolboy can understand the mechanics of ,the Congress Party
provided he has a grasp of the principles of physics. For
instance, the truism 'like poles repel' explains the friction
between Narasimha Rao and Sitaram Kesri.
Again, Newton's Third Law states 'for every action there is an
equal and opposite reaction'; If Congressmen talk too much, the CBI
can be made to do some effective talking of its own. Or, worse, it
can ask others to start talking...
Which explains two things that happened on January 19. To begin
with, CBI director Joginder Singh flew off to Switzerland, via
London, to collect the long awaited Bofors papers. A few hours
later, a CBI team questioned Kesri (the result of complaint from a
private citizen.)
Bofors is a millstone around the neck of the Gandhi family. Yes, I
know that no member of the clan holds a post in the government or
party. But Congressmen never tire of proclaiming that the Gandhis
are the "rightful leaders" of the nation. If so, they may as well
face the scrutiny of the public.
To return to the Bofors scandal, till date we do not know the
ultimate beneficiaries. It is possible that we may not know their
identities even after Joginder Singh receives the papers from
Switzerland.
But one fact has been established the involvement of a certain
Ottavio Quattrochi. And it has also been established that the
Gandhis were intimates, of this Italian.
In his heyday in Delhi, senior bureaucrats feared to cross
Quattrochi. So close were his links to the first family of the
Congress that he did not hesitate to call Prime Minister Rajiv
Gandhi in the middle of cabinet meetings.
For the record, Ottavio Quattrochi represented an Italian
multinational. But that did not seem to prevent others from using
his services as a wheeler dealer. One such firm was the Swedish
arms maker Bofors.
But if Quattrochi's involvement is well known, the precise nature
of his services is an untold story. That is not the fault of the
CBI team, that was on the case.
The then joint director in charge of the investigation, Madhavan,
was not permitted to conduct a proper interrogation. In spite of
his written warning, Quattrochi was permitted to leave the country.
In other words, every attempt was made to shield him, for fear that
he would crack under questioning.
I am certain that the Swiss papers won't contain any receipt for
bribes duly signed by a member of the Gandhi family. And
Congressmen, even the Mr Cleans in that party, will undoubtedly
make much of this. But in the court of public opinion, the
Congress already stands condemned.
Legal evidence of Quattrochi's involvement, if it comes, will just
be confirmation of the popular belief. If he is identified as a
recipient of the Bofors payoff, that is clearly bad news for Sonia
Gandhi. To use an analogy, Quattrochi is to the Gandhis as
Chandraswami is to Narasimha Rao.
Both Quattrochi and Chandraswami derived their power from their
proximity to the Congress president. Both were
extra-constitutional authorities. One has already dragged down his
friend by talking. How about the other?
It will be difficult for the "mother of the Congress" to approach
the voters if she comes with the stench of payoffs around her. And
if she is tarnished, so shall be the hopes of all those Congressmen
who see the party's last hopes in her.
They don't, God knows, have much reason to put their faith in
Sitaram Kesri's vote catching abilities. Speaking of whom, why is
the CBI questioning the Congress president?
For the record, the CBI is investigating a complaint registered by
someone else, alleging assets out of proportion to Kesri's known
income. The Congress president and his followers feel that they
are being victimised without reason.
To be fair to Sitaram, the CBI team hasn't found anything of
substance. But it says it needs more time to complete a full
investigation. It isn't prepared to issue any good conduct
certificates just yet.
Kesri like Mulayam Singh Yadav and Laloo Prasad Yadav feels hurt.
After keeping out of the scandal columns despite all those years as
the Congress purse master, he finds it hard to believe that he too
is being investigated like other Congressmen.
Kesri is in a hurry. (He can hear the biological clock ticking
relentlessly.) If he wants to be prime minister it is anybody's
guess how much time he has left. But after squeezing Narasimha Rao
out for sundry scandals, he can't cling on if the CBI charges him
in turn.
The Congress president's counter riposte will probably be to join
hands with the beleaguered Yadavs in the United Front. Laloo has
been interrogated in connection with the Fodder seam. And Mulayam
is out to defend himself in the Ayurveda seam before the officers
come calling on him.
It makes sense for both the Yadavs to unite with Kesri. The
process has begun. Mulayam and Laloo have publicly testified to
their warm relations with the Congress president.
But what happens if all this plotting does not come off? What will
be the effect of the Congress?
Sonia Gandhi will be in no position to lead the party if Kesri
falls in his turn. The true beneficiary will be Sharad Pawar.
Pawar is leader of the Congress in the Lok Sabha. He is also
reasonably friendly with the prime minister. What is more, he is
willing to serve in a cabinet led by Deve Gowda.
By no coincidence, the people who dislike and mistrust Deve Gowda
(and Narasimha Rao) entertain similar feelings about Sharad Pawar.
The Gandhis and Kesri think the Maratha chieftain is guilty of the
worst sin of all ambition.
All this to-ing and fro-ing must come to a head sooner rather than
later. Whether it is Bofors, or the Fodder seam, or the Ayurveda
seam, or even Kesri's assets, the targets of the various CBI probes
can't afford to let them proceed unhindered.
Kesri, the Yadavs, and even 10, Janpath are convinced that it is
not a coincidence that the. CBI is switching gears just when the
Deve Gowda government is coming under assault. They may be right.
But if laws have been bent and crimes have been committed, should
not the law take its course?
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