Excelsior... Nation

Special Security Branch operations cut down
Short-sighted steps can harm security interests,
warns RAW

From B L Kak

NEW DELHI, Oct 24 : India’s premier intelligence outfit, Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), has warned the powers-that-be at the Centre that the scenario along the country’s borders can acquire disturbing proportions, if "immediate" steps were not taken to resume the operations of the Special Security Branch (SSB) in Himachal Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh.

The SSB, a division of the Research and Analysis Wing, recently closed down operations in Shimla, Mahasu, Mandi, Kangra and Kullu in Himachal Pradesh. The SSB’s divisions were also closed down at Almora, Tehri and Pauri in Uttar Pradesh(UP).

Strategic importance of Himachal Pradesh has already become an open secret. And Almora, Tehri and Pauri in UP are along the China and Nepal border. Hence, the closure of SSB’s divisions in the two States has been perceived by the RAW as well as by the Intelligence Bureau (IB) as short-sighted.

According to sources in the Delhi-based force headquarters of the RAW, Prime Minister, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee, has just been persuaded, through a missive to him, to reconsider the earlier step, which led to the cutting down of operations of the SSB in Himachal and UP. The missive, these sources said, also contained a warning: Security interests along the Sino-Indian and India-Nepal border may be harmed, if the Special Security Branch was not permitted to resume its operations in the States of Himachal and UP.

Except for Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim, where the present pattern of deploying one platoon per circle will continue, the strength of the SSB in other areas was to be considerably reduced. The RAW’s higher-ups have also been reported to have conveyed to the Prime Minister that the cutting down of operations of the SSB in Himachal and UP can lead to the kind of intelligence failure which led to the Kargil crisis.

At the same time, it was officially explained that these steps were part of the recommendations of a three-member special review and evaluation committee set up to review the functioning of the SSB. The committee of secretaries headed by the Cabinet Secretary to which the SSB reports, had already accepted these recommendations, it was further stated.

Various elements in the intelligence agencies have held serious reservations against the plan to establish a single line chain of command, although in a phased manner. They point out that this has been the bane of military intelligence where decisions are taken at the highest level and there is almost no decentralisation.

Has there been much overlapping ? Sources point out that this is unavoidable because no intelligence agency in India pays enough for trans-border operations to the local boys who are then forced by poverty to work simultaneously for other authorities. There is no denying that the existing system of intelligence-gathering has its flaws, with the local boys often having worked for several agencies like IB, RAW, Army, BSF and local police at the same time.

Prime Minister has informally been informed that instead of addressing the need for better coordination among the agencies – in fact, till today, there is no coordination cell even in Kashmir – the Government has sought to overcentralise one of its premier agencies which would make its operations hostage to the bureaucracy.

The three-member special review and evaluation committee is reported to have sought to make the recruitment pattern broad-based, instead of employing only locals. A senior official involved in intelligence operations described this as "suicidal". It would, he explained, introduce people to a terrain who would find it impossible, because of their physical appearances and of their cultural and linguistic differences, to merge with the local population.

Flamboyant Panja creates a breeze
Jaswant Singh finds fault with diatribe against Pak ruler

From B L Kak

NEW DELHI, Oct 24: The Minister for External Affairs, Mr Jaswant Singh, is understood to have voiced displeasure at the choice of operations employed by his junior Ministerial colleague, Mr Ajit Panja, while defining Pakistan’s military ruler, Gen. Parvez Musharraf.

The impulsive leader of the Trinamul Congress, Mr Ajit Panja, obviously exceeded his brief when he commented on the modus operandi of Gen. Musharraf. If the External Affairs Minister had decided to be pretty cautious while making use of expressions vis-à-vis the military rule in Pakistan, the Minister of State for External Affairs, Mr Panja, ran fast and furious and made use of such expressions that had not been thought of by Mr Jaswant Singh.

Mr Jaswant Singh, according to sources, has not objected to the statement of Mr Ajit Panja ruling out immediate possibility of a dialogue with Pakistan. Mr Jaswant Singh has reportedly taken exception to Mr Panja’s observation: "The coup in Pakistan has been carried out by a dismissed persons". These sources divulged that Mr Panja had not consulted Mr Jaswant Singh prior to airing his views on happenings in Pakistan in an interview to The Asian Age.

Sources also divulged that the publication of the interview led to animated whispers in the corridors of the External Affairs Ministry and in the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) on Saturday. At a time when both Prime Minister, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee, and the External Affairs Minister, Mr Jaswant Singh, had advocated the need for "cautious approach" in relation to India’s crucial neighbours, Pakistan and China, the flamboyant Minister of State, Mr Panja, held his stick from a different end.

Mr Panja has been quoted as having posed: Where is the rule of law in Pakistan ? Where is Gen. Musharraf’s locus standi ? Who is Gen. Musharraf ? Interestingly, at a time when Mr Panja had not been allocated his work in the External Affairs Ministry, higher-ups in the Ministry and in the PMO were taken aback by his comments on the Pak military ruler.

Mr Panja was reported to have used these expressions : "Who do we talk to ? We have to see who is there, how he has come to power. It is not a coup by someone in power, military or civil. It has been done by a dismissed person. Where is the rule of law?" Despite reports received by him that there was little public sympathy for the dismissed Prime Minister of Pakistan, Mr Nawaz Sharief, Mr Panja placed himself on record to say: "Sometimes we become afraid to say what we feel but we must remember that power does not flow from the barrel of a gun now".

Mr Panja cannot deny that the proclamation of Emergency by Gen. Musharraf is a very well-drafted order which respects and preserves fundamental rights. In fact, a Pakistani constitutional expert, Mr Raza Karim, who is also a human rights activist, has already placed himself on record to say: "Unlike in the past, the present order has not put the bureaucracy in control of the people".

Former chief of Pakistan’s ISI, Lt. Gen. Hamid Gul, while describing the dismissed Premier, Mr Nawaz Sharief, as a US stooge, has let it be known: "There was no other way to dislodge Sharief from the monarch’s citadel. I believe Pakistan’s long-term objectives have been safeguarded. The Army is fully behind Parvez Musharraf. There is absolutely no rift in the rank-and-file and the rumours that some corps commanders are with Sharief are mischievous".

Lt. Gen. Gul maintained that while Mr Nawaz Sharief, his brother Mr Shahbaz Sharief and their cronies were being increasingly seen as the surrogates of the US, the Army’s action in Pakistan "is fully justified considering the ground realities". His argument: "Nobody can deny that Pakistan needs democracy. But what has been going on under the label of democracy was more reminiscent of medieval monarchies rather than any manifestation of democracy. Pakistan is in dire need of a period of respite in which to put the house in order and then move on to re-establish democracy very soon, but certainly not before the Aegean stables have been cleared of all the muck".

Delhi’s South Block, which houses Prime Minister’s Office and the Ministries of Defence and External Affairs, has also been furnished with details about the absence of required support and sympathy for Mr Nawaz Sharief among different military corps in Pakistan. According to these details, Corps Commander of the 10th Corps, based at Rawalpindi, quickly went into action to rescue Gen. Musharraf. In fact, Commander of this Corps is considered the most powerful officer after the Army Chief.

While Lt. Gen. Khalid Aziz, Vice-Chief of Army Staff, is a known loyalist of Gen. Musharraf, Maj. Gen. Anis Bajwa and Lt. Gen. Muzzafar Usmani, Corps Commander of Sind, were in Karachi masterminding the safe landing of the Army Chief on October 12. Maj. Gen. Mushtaq Hussain, Lt. Gen. S Zafar and Lt. Gen. Tariq Qureshi are the other Corps Commanders who were solidly behind Gen. Musharraf.

Full term LS must for development: Balayogi

HYDERABAD, Oct 24: Lok Sabha Speaker GMC Balayogi today said a full five-year term for Lok Sabha would ensure development process in the country which otherwise would be hampered by frequent elections.

"Though Speaker has no role to play in bringing out a legislation to ensure full term to Lok Sabha as it is the prerogative of an elected Government, my personal opinion is that stability always paves the way for development", Balayogi told reporters here.

Admitting that frequent elections would disrupt the economic and development process in the country, Balayogi said the initiative for a legislation to fix a full term to Lok Sabha should come from the political parties.

On anti-defection law, Balayogi suggested that the present law needed some modifications going by the experiences of presiding officers (Assembly Speakers) of various states.

The recommendations made by the committee headed by West Bengal Speaker suggesting some measures to plug the loopholes in the anti-defection law was under consideration and would soon be sent to the Law Ministry for its perusal before tabling it in Parliament, he said.

Balayogi stated that the ensuing Speakers’ conference would discuss among other things the ways and means to avoid any conflict between judiciary and legislature and on how to maintain cordial relationship between the two estates.

Asked if there was any proposal to constitute an ethics committee in Parliament, Balayogi said the Lok Sabha has an ethics and privileges committee, headed by P Upendra and its report suggesting some modifications would be examined and adopted soon.

On criminalisation of politics, Balayogi said the Law Commission and Election Commission (EC) have brought in some useful amendments and it is up to political parties to adhere to the norms.

He lamented that there was no due representation of women in Parliament as it has merely gone up from 8.7 to 8.8 per cent as regards the previous and present Lok Sabha.

Asked if the proceedings of Lok Sabha would be telecast live for more transparency, he said, "some private television channels also approached for covering the proceedings live and it is under consideration". (PTI)

AIADMK invites TMC to join stir against BJP-DMK

CHENNAI, Oct 26: In a move which may have far reaching implications on Tamil Nadu politics, the AIADMK today invited the Tamil Maanila Congress (TMC) to join its planned stir against the policies of the BJP and DMK Governements.

AIADMK supremo Jayalalitha told a press conference here after a meeting of the party’s executive that the stir was a part of the party’s exercise to consolidate anti-DMK and anti-BJP forces in the state.

She said she had already broached the subject with TMC president G K Moopanar, when she met him here yesterday. Moopanar had told her a decision on this would be taken only after consultation with TMC leaders and cadre, she said.

Asked whether it was the party’s efforts to bring all anti-DMK forces under one umbrella to fight the next Assembly elections, she said ‘yes’.

On whether the people would accept an alliance between the AIADMK and the tmc as the latter was born on an anti-AIADMK plank, she said that when the people could accept an alliance between the DMK and the MDMK, why would they not accept an alliance between the AIADMK and the TMC.

Jayalalitha said that if the TMC decided to join the AIADMK-Congress front in the state, she would gladly welcome it. ‘We are working towards a secular and anti-DMK and anti-BJP front in the state,’ she said.

She said if the Congress and TMC come together to form a minsitry in the neighbouring Union Territory of Pondicherry, her party would extend support to the move. But no party has so far appraoched the AIADMK on this, she said.

Jayalalitha said she would be writing a letter to moopanar inviting him to join the AIAMDK’s agitation against the diesel price hike, bus fare hike and on other people’s issues.

She would be discussing the issue of organising a joint agitation against Central and State Government policies with state CPI-M leader N Sankaraiah tomorrow. She had already discussed the matter with state CPI leader R Nallakannu, she said.

Jayalalitha said her party would not have any tie-up with the Puthia Tamizhagam, which she described as a ‘violent mob and not a political party’.

She also demanded a roll back in diesel prices. ‘If the centre is unable to do it, at least they should reduce the price to some extent,’ she said. (PTI)

Rajiv Gandhi’s name figures 20 times in CBI chargesheet

NEW DELHI, Oct 24: The CBI has mentioned former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi as many as 20 times in the 25-page chargesheet filed in the Bofors case last week.

Mr Gandhi has been named as an accused in the case but "not sent up for trial" as he is no more.

The first reference to his name figures on the first page under the second column titled "names and addresses of accused persons not sent up for trial." The first column contains the names of five accused who will face trial. They are (in the order mentioned in the chargesheet): Former defence secretary S K Bhatnagar, former Bofors agent in India, Win Chadha, controversial Italian businessman Ottavio Quattrocchi, former AB Bofors agent Martin Ardbo and AB Bofors of Sweden.

The second page of the chargesheet says investigations into the allegations conducted so far in India and abroad has revealed that the five accused recommended for trial and the late Rajiv Gandhi "entered into/were parties to a criminal conspiracy with some other persons at Delhi (India), Sweden, Switzerland and other places during the period 1985-87 and thereafter, with an object to award a contract by Government of India in favour of M/S Bofors for the purchase of 400 numbers of 155 mm FH 77-B gun systems by abuse of official position by the abovesaid public servants and for causing wrongful gain to private persons/others and corresponding wrongful loss to the Government of India in the said gun deal." The chargesheet refers to his name for the third time to state "the late shri Rajiv Gandhi was the Prime Minister of India during the relevant period and was holding the portfolio of Ministry of Defence also from September 25, 1985 to January 24, 1987."

His name is mentioned next to state "on the advice of the Army headquarters and after discussing the advantages and disadvantages of the various gun systems, the negotiating committee (consisting of seven members with Defence Secretary as its Chairman), at its meeting held on October 29, 1985, recommended the shortlisting of two firms, namely, M/S Sofma and M/S Bofors, for detailed negotiations. Late shri Rajiv Gandhi, Prime Minister (as Defence Minister), approved the same on November 25, 1985."

The next reference to his name has been made in the context of a meeting of the negotiating committee held on March 12, 1986 when it was felt that the offer of M/S Bofors was better than that of M/S Sofma....The matter regarding issuance of the letter of intent was got approved from the different secretaries and ministers concerned on March 13, 1986 and March 14, 1986.

"The file in fact was approved by five officials and three ministers on a single day, i.E. March 13, 1986 and was finally approved by the PM shri Rajiv Gandhi, as Raksha Mantri (RM) on March 14, 1986. The letter of intent was also issued to M/S Bofors on March 14, 1986."

The chargesheet, while referring to Mr Gandhi’s name subsequently, reads: "That S K Bhatnagar, on March 22, 1986, submitted a note to the Prime Minister late shri Rajiv Gandhi, inter alia, referring to a discussion with the latter and, seeking permission for awarding the contract to M/S Bofors."

The sentence which contains the eighth reference to his name states: "On March 24, 1986, a contract number 6(9)/84/D(GS.IV) was entered into between Government of India and M/S AB Bofors after approval by the then Prime Minister, the late shri Rajiv Gandhi, who was also the Defence Minister, for supplying 400 FH 77-B gun systems along with vehicles, ammunition and other accessories, at a total cost of sek 8,410,660,984 (equivalent approximately to Rs 1,437.72 crores as per exchange rate on March 21, 1986, one sek = Rs 1,7094."

The next three references to his name describes his alleged attempt to scuttle a Swedish Government probe which had been sought by the Indian Government itself following a Swedish radio report on April 16, 1987, over a year after the signing of the contract, that Bofors had managed to obtain the contract due to the fact that local agents had been paid large amounts in "bribes."

The radio report stated that the agent helped Bofors with local contacts and support within the Indian military authorities, within the bureaucracy and within the "Prime Minister Gandhi’s Congress party."

The CBI investigation "has revealed that, after receiving the said report of M/S bofors dated April 24, 1987 and the views of the Indian Ambassador at Stockholm, the late shri Rajiv Gandhi, the PM, had a telephonic conversation with the Swedish PM, Carlsson. He told Carlsson that he had received the report of Bofors which mentioned that there were no middlemen and, therefore, there was no need for any further investigation by the Swedish Government.

"It may be mentioned that what late shri Rajiv Gandhi told the Swedish Prime Minister Carlsson was just the contrary to what the Government of India had requested through official channels. All this took place despite the specific advice of the Indian Ambassador in Sweden. In fact Ambassador BM Oza was kept in the dark with regard to this development.....

"However, Ambassador Oza persisted with the original stand till the Swedish Prime Minister Carlsson told him about the developments. The late shri Rajiv Gandhi, however, had to relent later on and he sent a message to the Swedish PM on April 28, 1987 to the effect that though facts furnished by Bofors tend to confirm the position that there were no middlemen, clarifications are necessary to set the controversy at rest.’ The message added in this context, the enquiry promised by the Swedish Government is of great importance,"’ the chargesheet says.

The report of the Swedish probe, ordered subsequently, stated that "considerable amounts have been paid" by AB Bofors to its previous agent in India.

The mention of the late former Prime Minister for the 13th time in the chargesheet deals with a proposal for possible cancellation of the contract in view of the alleged payment of bribe.

"The then Raksha Rajya Mantri, Arun Singh, also recorded a detailed note dated June 10, 1987 on the matter....He also suggested that the PM may reconfirm with the Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) as to whether the Army could afford the negative impact of a cancellation of the contract."

Subsequently, Bofors was told on July 3, 1987, that unless it furnished the details of payments it would lose the contract. Nobel group of industries, Anders Carlberg, along with two others, was ready to come to India on July 6, 1987 and the Indian Embassy at Stockholm had issued visas for the three-member delegation.

"However, the late shri Rajiv Gandhi, the then Prime Minister of India intervened at this stage on July 4, 1987. At a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs (CCPA) held at PM’s residence, he directed that officials of M/S Bofors should be asked to cancel their trip to Delhi as a decision had been taken to constitute a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) to look into the entire Bofors affairs. At the same meeting, he also directed the ministry of defence not to pursue Bofors any longer."

The sentence containing the 15th reference to his name reads : "In June-July 1987, the Prime Minister, the late shri Rajiv Gandhi, asked the Ministry of Defence for an evaluation of the cost/effect on national security, of the cancellation of Bofors contract."

The next two references state that Quattrocchi was close to Mr Gandhi. Bofors ‘went to the extent of entering into a fresh consultancy agreement with M/S AE Services Limited of UK on November 15, 1985 at the behest of Ottavio Quattrocchi, a family friend of the then Prime Minister, the late shri Rajiv Gandhi." Quattrocchi "had no experience of any guns, gun systems or any related equipment. However, he was a close family friend of late shri Rajiv Gandhi, the then Prime Minister and Defence Minister, and enjoyed free access even to his (Mr Gandhi’s) official residence."

The last three references figure when the chargesheet talks of the charges against him. "Thus, by the aforesaid acts, the late shri Rajiv Gandhi, S K Bhatnagar, Ottavio Quattrocchi, Win Chadha, Martin Ardbo and M/S Bofors in pursuance of the aforesaid criminal conspiracy, showed undue favour to M/S Bofors, Sweden, in the award of aforesaid contract dated March 24, 1986 for the supply of 400 numbers of 155 MM FH 77B gun systems causing wrongful gain to M/S Bofors, Ottavio Quattrocchi and Win Chadha and corresponding loss to the Government of India and the Government of India was cheated to the tune of the commission amount paid by M/S Bofors in the said deal.

"The aforesaid facts constitute commission of offences punishable under Section 120B IPC read with 420 IPC and 5(2) read with 5(1)(D) of the Prevention of Corruption Act 1947 by the late shri Rajiv Gandhi, S K Bhatnagar, Ottavio Quattrocchi, Win Chadha, Martin Ardbo, former president of M/S AB Bofors and M/S AB Bofors, Sweden and substantive offences punishable under Section 5(2) read with 5(1)(D) of Prevention of Corruption Act 1947 by late shri Rajiv Gandhi, S.K. Bhatnagar, former Defence Secretary, GOI (since retired) and under Section 420 IPC by Martin Ardbo, formerly president of M/S AB Bofors, Sweden." (UNI)