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Home , Gurudas Dasgupta, Pranab Mukherjee, Sharad Yadav

CHENNAI 16 NEWS THE HINDU FRIDAY, MARCH 18, 2011

Ajit Singh: we openly voted “Not possible to either confirm or deny allegations” against UPA Special Correspondent WikiLeaks allegations related to the 14th , this is a new government: Pranab

NEW : Describing as base- Vinay Kumar & J. Balaji ment to either confirm or de- was adjourned for the day in he should resign immediate- Opposition to the ruling coa- in the afternoon, Sanjay Ni- less the latest WikiLeaks ny the allegations. the afternoon. ly,” he said. lition. “It is just not possible rupam of the Congress was claim that his MPs had been : Finance Minister He also asked Leader of the CPI leader Gurudas Das- He wondered whether the without any allurement.” He heard questioning the cred- bribed ahead of the crucial Pranab told the Opposition in the Rajya Sab- gupta raised the issue as soon “control room of the govern- demanded that the Prime ibility of the WikiLeaks ca- trust vote in 2008, Rashtriya on Thursday that ha whether he as the Lok Sabha met. ment is in Delhi or in Wash- Minister come to the House bles, saying it showed the Lok Dal (RJD) chief Ajit allegations contained in the was satisfied that “whatever Mr. Dasgupta, who had giv- ington.” and offer an explanation. bankruptcy of ideas in the Singh on Thursday said that cables released by the Wiki- has appeared in [a] newspa- en a notice for an adjourn- Samajwadi Party leader Ramchandra Dome of the Opposition. his party had “openly” voted Leaks related to the 14th Lok per report is admissible in the ment motion, said he did so Mulayam Singh wanted a dis- CPI(M) said the cash-for- As the uproar and heated against the United Progres- Sabha, which was dissolved in court of law.” because The Hindu carried cussion, saying his party had vote scam was the “most exchanges continued, Fran- sive Alliance government at May 2009, and the govern- of the CPI an exposé unprecedented in also supported the UPA-I shameful chapter of Indian cisco Sardinha, who was in that time. “We had opposed ment of the day was a newly (M) said the exposé constitu- the history of Indian democ- government. “We had also democracy” and the “shame- the Chair, adjourned the the [Indo-U.S.] nuclear deal elected one, accountable to ted a “humongous indict- racy. “Never has this type of worked to save the govern- ful revelations” proved the House till 6 p.m. When the and after talking to MPs from the . ment of the way this news come in the newspaper. ment in 2008. Similar allega- Opposition right. House re-assembled, almost Opposition parties we had de- Responding to the Opposi- government has been func- There was a no-confidence tions may be made against us Demanding that Dr. Singh the entire Opposition, includ- cided to vote against the gov- tion attack on the UPA gov- tioning.” It represented not motion moved by us in 2008, also, and we will be maligned. own “moral responsibility” ing the BJP, the CPI, the CPI ernment,” Mr. Singh told ernment, Mr. Mukherjee said only the “gross degeneration and all Opposition parties We want a discussion on the for the episode, he said that (M), the , the JD(U), journalists. The RLD chief the cables cited by the Wiki- of political morality but also voted against the govern- matter.” whatever happened was a the TDP and the Shiromani said that his party was open to Leaks website were the corre- gross political opportunism” ment. In order to win the no- (United) chief criminal offence and a crimi- Akali Dal, staged a walkout an investigation into the is- addressing the media in spondence between a of the government while confidence motion, Rs. 50 Sharad described the nal investigation into it after unsuccessfully demand- sue. He pointed out that sovereign government and its dealing with the trust vote in crore to 60 crore was paid to a exposé as “very serious” and should be held. ing a statement from Dr. against the claims made in New Delhi on Thursday. mission abroad, and it was July 2008. As uproarious number of MPs. If the Prime said it was not possible that When the Lok Sabha re- Singh, who was present in the the U.S. cables, his party had — PHOTO: R.V. MOORTHY not possible for the govern- scenes continued, the House Minister does not deny this, 19 MPs crossed over from the assembled after adjournment House. three MPs in 2008 and not four. Interestingly, while Mr. Singh on Thursday said his party had made its position PM must explain, clear days before the trust Advani says Manmohan has lost vote, a report dated July 17 — five days before the July 22 trust vote — said that Com- say Left parties munist Party of general moral authority to lead government secretary A.B. Bardhan met Special Correspondent ination of an American diplo- Mr. Singh at the latter’s resi- mat, and that it was B. Muralidhar Reddy 2008. He was the political dence in a bid to persuade NEW DELHI: The Left, along additional confirmation on counsellor in the American him to oppose the Indo-U.S. with three other parties, de- what had already happened. NEW DELHI: The National Dem- Embassy. The Americans nuclear deal and vote against manded on Thursday that the “I don’t think it can be a ocratic Alliance (NDA) on were interested in the vote of the UPA government. After govern- manufactured thing or a fig- Thursday demanded the re- confidence. One of the of- that meeting, the report quot- ment come clean on the Wiki- ment of imagination. We signation of Prime Minister fenders was lavishly and lib- ed Mr. Bardhan as saying: Leaks exposé that suggested knew all of this had hap- Manomohan Singh, saying he erally working in foreign cell “We met today to discuss the that Members of Parliament pened. It was a well-known lost the ‘moral authority and of the Congress. Indo-U.S. nuclear deal. While were bribed ahead of the fact; this is additional confir- legitimacy’ to lead the gov- “The arrogant Congress our stand over the deal is 2008 trust vote. mation,” he said. ernment after The Hindu ex- displayed the rogue war clear and known to all, Ajit The CPI said the Prime Mr. Karat said the Amer- posé accessed through chests to the American diplo- Singh is yet to take a decision Minister and his government ican diplomat was doing his WikiLeaks on cash-for-votes mat. He certainly could not whether to support or oppose had no right to remain in job. “They have reported in 2008. have concocted these facts in the trust vote. I leave it up to power after this exposé. what they have seen. I don’t Addressing a press confer- relation to a friendly party in him.” Referring to the report in disbelieve the fact that their ence here, NDA working India. The likes of Sant Chat- On July 17, the UPA gov- The Hindu, the leaders of political counsellor has seen chairman L.K. Advani main- wal were inducted in order to ernment also announced its these parties wondered why two boxes shown by some- tained that the cable by a se- induce the Akali Dal.” decision to rename Lucknow Dr. Singh was not present in body,” he said. “The U.S. has nior American diplomat to The statement maintained Airport as Chaudhary Charan Parliament, especially when reported or recorded what his government vindicated that the Finance Minister’s Singh Airport in honour of the day was earmarked for they have seen or heard. the position taken by the defence in the Rajya Sabha Mr. Singh’s father. questions for his office in the That’s not their job to go be- NDA that the government at- that diplomatic immunity Rajya Sabha. yond that. As far as we are tempted to monetarily in- Leaders of the National Democratic Alliance led by L.K. Advani, Sushma prevented the government “The Prime Minister must concerned, it is a matter of duce MPs to vote in favour of Swaraj and addressing a press conference at the Parliament from investigating the cable Privilege notice come and explain. Today was deep concern that this has the confidence vote at the House after adjournment of both the Houses on Thursday. was of no avail. his day in the Rajya Sabha and happened to our Parliament height of the crisis over the — PHOTO: SHANKER CHAKRAVARTY “The diplomatic immunity he chose not to be present,’’ and our democratic system,” India-U.S. nuclear deal. extends to protecting the se- against The Hindu CPI(M) MP and Polit Bureau he said. Flanked by leaders of the by The Hindu corroborated that Dr. Singh has lost all not only approached MPs crecy of the cable. That cable member Sitaram Yechury Echoing similar views, the constituents of the NDA, Mr. the position taken by the “moral authority.” with money but got them to has already been released to Special Correspondent said at a press conference at CPI Central Secretariat said Advani ruled out the possibil- NDA that the vote of confi- Dubbing the exposé the speak to the interlocutors. the public. The diplomatic the Parliament House attend- the exposé showed the “ve- ity of the Opposition tabling a dence in favour of the UPA-I “biggest scandal” in the post- The targeted MPs produced immunity does not extend to NEW DELHI: Communist Party ed by H.D. Deve Gowda (JD- nality” of the government. no-confidence motion was influenced by bribery. independent history, Mr. Ad- the cash in the Lok Sabha. protecting an Indian offend- of India MP Gurudas Dasgup- S), D. Raja (CPI), Nama Na- “The party feels that after an against the Manmohan Singh vani said that any person What other evidence is need- er, who has committed an act ta on Thursday submitted a geswara Rao (TDP) and exposure of such dimensions, government. ‘Credibility of The proud of the Indian demo- ed?” he asked. of bribery in India. Shri Pra- privilege notice to the Lok Shailender (SP). the Prime Minister and the “Some of us may want an Hindu is high’ cratic system should feel He maintained that the nab Mukherjee’s further de- Sabha Speaker against The The CPI (M) Polit Bureau UPA government have no election, but all MPs may not The senior BJP leader ashamed of it. parliamentary committee set fence that the offence Hindu following its story said the report sent by the right to remain in power.’’ be in favour of it. Total Oppo- complimented The Hindu on “I have not seen in my po- up to probe the allegations vanished with the dissolution based on the WikiLeaks U.S. Charge d’Affaires should CPI parliamentary party sition may not be in its fa- publishing the cable. Asked litical life a government as served no purpose as it was of the is in- expose. be the basis for the filing of a leader re- vour,” the former Deputy about the authenticity of the corrupt as the current one. dominated by members of the credible since the offence of Terming his move a “re- First Information Report and jected the argument of Fi- Prime Minister said in re- cable, Mr. Advani said: “Cred- Right from the top in the gov- ruling combine and even its bribery, committed in 2008, verse googly,” Mr. Dasgupta an investigation against Sat- nance Minister Pranab sponse to a question why the ibility of The Hindu is high ernment establishment and recommendations for a fur- outside Parliament does not said the notice, while asking ish Sharma and Nachiketa Mukherjee that the issue of NDA did not go for a no-trust and the paper found it worth the party all are involved,” he ther investigation in the mat- vanish because the 14th Lok the newspaper to authenti- Kapur. “The Congress lead- the 14th Lok Sabha could not vote against the United Pro- publishing it.” said. ter was not followed. Sabha has ceased to exist,” it cate what it reported, was to ership, including the Prime be taken up in the current gressive Alliance (UPA) gov- He said that in the wake of A senior leader of the NDA A statement by the NDA noted. compel the government to Minister, cannot escape their House. Mr. Dasgupta said ernment in the Lok Sabha. the recent scams that dogged argued that the latest exposé noted that the cable publish- The statement said the dis- come before the Privileges responsibility in this gross act criminal acts committed out- He said Dr. Singh should the government, the NDA did was to be seen against the ed in The Hindu was a state- closure added to the cam- Committee to prove its inno- of political malfeasance and side could not be brushed come before Parliament and not demand the resignation backdrop of a set of allega- ment sent by an American paign of the NDA against cence. bribery.” aside under this argument announce his resignation of the Prime Minister. But af- tions made on the eve of the diplomat to his government. corruption and “these allega- CPI(M) general secretary just as a murder could not be owning responsibility. The ter the latest exposé, the Op- crucial 2008 confidence vote. It said: tions of corruption shall con- Prakash Karat said the cable condoned after a lapse of a main argument of Mr. Advani position would have failed in “Individuals claiming to be “It is contemporaneous in tinue to haunt this Never heard of was not a figment of the imag- few years. was that the cable published its duty had it not asserted representing the government so far as it relates to the year government till it continues.” Kaplan, says Jayakumar Nachiketa Kapur was on the inside track with Congress Special Correspondent Special Correspondent the U.S. State Department Council of Ministers. Deputy Director General pur: in 2008, it issued a mem- Personnel and Training, Mr. paintings by Mr. Sharma’s Bureau of Educational and Some years later, he left (Protocol & Media Relations), orandum not only rejecting Kapur had said at that time Dutch-born wife, Sterre. CHENNAI: The former presi- NEW DELHI: Nachiketa Kapur, Cultural Affairs and a wide Ms. Chowdhury’s staff on a Commonwealth Games. his promotion to the post of that it was done at Ms. dent of the Tamil Nadu Youth now in the eye of the Wiki- range of corporate, founda- bitter note, following differ- The Commonwealth the Minister’s OSD, but add- Chowdhury’s behest, and that Denies charges Congress, Mayura S. Jayaku- Leaks storm, first came to tion and individual partners” ences with her and another Games authorities were ap- ing that he “should not be he had been “victimised” by On Thursday, Mr. Kapur mar, has denied a quote attri- public notice in 1998 as gen- and conducts exchanges with member of her staff: at that parently unaware that the all- considered for any appoint- her. However, when the denied allegations made in buted to him in a U.S. eral secretary of the Indian over 20 nations around the point he was hoping to be up- powerful Appointments ment of a sensitive nature.” ACC’s strictures appeared in leaked U.S. diplomatic cables diplomatic cable, accessed by Youth Congress under its world. graded Officer on Special Du- Committee of Cabinet (ACC), Asked to comment on the ex- Outlook magazine in 2010, that he was involved in paying The Hindu through Wiki- then president, Manish Te- Mr. Kapur’s stint in the ty. He soon found himself in an unusual action, had traordinary memorandum is- the Commonwealth Games off MPs to save the Manmo- Leaks, relating to the practice wari, currently an MP and na- Youth Congress’ Foreign Af- another berth in 2008 — as passed strictures on Mr. Ka- sued by the Ministry of authorities were forced to han Singh government in a of bribing voters. tional spokesperson of the fairs Cell brought him in ease him out of the job. crucial trust vote in 2008. In a statement, Mr. Jayaku- Congress. In those days, he touch with the former For- If Mr. Kapur has had a che- “I do not know anything. I mar said he had never heard was associated with the For- eign Secretary, J.N. Dixit, quered career, he has simul- have not witnessed any- of Fredrick J. Kaplan, official eign Affairs Cell of the Youth who, after his retirement Baseless, false allegations: Sharma, taneously been a regular in thing,” Mr. Kapur told jour- of the U.S. Consulate-General Congress, and the contacts he from the government, joined Delhi’s whirl of Page Three nalists. In the cable he is here, and never met him or built then served him well in the Congress’ Foreign Affairs NEW DELHI: Two key players, reported by the paper,” Mr. was also “helping parties. On Thursday, Con- quoted as saying that a fund had any conversation with later years when he would Department. When Mr. Dixit including former Union Sharma said. distributing largesse” to gress MP Satish Sharma de- of Rs. 50-60 crore had been him. host dinners at his West Delhi became National Security Ad- Minister Satish Sharma, U.S. diplomatic cables defeat the trust vote sought nied that Mr. Kapur was his formed to pay MPs to vote for The story, ‘Cash for votes a home for the American Coun- viser in 2004 after the United whose name figures in the released by the Wikileaks by the government. aide, as he has been described the government in the trust way of political life in South cil Of Young Political Leaders Progressive Alliance came to Wikileaks cables in claimed that an aide of Mr. “Whatever has been in the U.S. embassy cable vote. He also reportedly India,’ had a reference to the (ACYPL). These parties power at the Centre, Mr. Ka- connection with allegations Sharma allegedly showed a attributed to me, I made available to The Hindu showed an American embas- Tamil Nadu Youth Congress would have a sprinkling of In- pur was made a Research Of- of bribing MPs to win the U.S. Embassy employee. completely deny. It is by the WikiLeaks. He has also sy staffer two chests contain- president (though the name dians working at the U.S. Em- ficer in the National Security 2008 trust vote, on “two chests containing cash” completely false,” Mr. Nath denied working for Mr. Shar- ing cash meant for the bribes. was not mentioned) in a cable bassy and prominent Delhi Council. Thursday denied any role in and said Rs. 50-60 crore is told journalists here. ma. But clearly, the two are On his part, Mr. Kapur de- sent on May 13, 2009. Congress and BJP leaders. Shortly after Mr. Dixit’s the episode. ready for use as “pay-offs” to The WikiLeaks cable said: well known to each other. A nies ever having worked with Noting that he was the The ACYPL, according to sudden death in January Rejecting the allegations, win the support of some MPs “[The then] Minister of random search on the inter- Mr. Sharma: “I am in the Youth Congress president at its Facebook page, was found- 2005, Mr. Kapur joined the Mr. Sharma said he did not ahead of crucial vote of Commerce and Industry net reveals an item which same party...but I have not that time, Mr. Jayakumar ed in 1966 as “a bipartisan then Union Minister for have any aide by the name confidence in the UPA Kamal Nath was also helping says he was “spotted” at the worked with him.” Asked if he said: “It is most unfortunate non-profit organisation in- Women and Child Develop- of Nachiketa Kapur and the government over the Indo- largesse. Fortunately he wedding of Mr. Sharma’s son, recalled meeting a U.S. em- that a quote regarding Karti ternationally recognised as ment Renuka Chowdhury’s allegations were baseless. U.S. nuclear deal. could only offer small planes Samir, where the other guests bassy staffer, he said: “I don’t P. Chidambaram is attributed the pre-eminent catalyst for staff. He already knew Ms. “I have read The Hindu Union Urban as bribes; now he can pay for included and recall.” to the unnamed Youth Con- introducing rising political Chowdhury, as he and some paper. It said I have an aide. Development Minister votes with jets.” other high profile politicians. In 2008, he travelled to the gress president,” he said, and policy leaders to interna- other former Youth Congress I do not have any political Kamal Nath on Thursday Rubbishing the claim Mr. Another item runs a photo- U.S. at the invitation of the terming the contents of the tional affairs and to each oth- members hosted a dinner in aide. There was no aide of dismissed the WikiLeaks Nath said it was absolutely graph of Mr. Kapur looking State Department to observe cable “highly malicious” and er,” which exists on the basis her honour in 2004, shortly me by the name of Kapur as report which alleged that he ridiculous. — PTI on admiringly (on November the presidential elections “mischievous.” of “generous support from after she was sworn into the 07, 2010) at an exhibition of there. Parliamentary panel on ‘cash-for-vote’ scam recommended further probe Neena Vyas the report of the parliamen- bate on the trust vote on July BJP allegation that Amar giver while it expressed sion he was present when the tary committee set up to 22, 2008, was later kept with Singh, then Samajwadi Party doubts about the role of one alleged bribe was given. NEW DELHI: The case related to probe the scandal recom- the Lok Sabha Secretariat till leader, had paid money to Suhail Hindustani. This too the display of large amounts mended that the matter relat- the inquiry was completed. BJP MPs Ashok Argal, Faggan needed to be looked at by in- 3 dissent notes of cash in the Lok Sabha dur- ed to the money displayed in The cash was then handed Singh Kulaste and Mahavir vestigating agencies, the re- Three dissent notes were ing the confidence vote in the House be investigated by over to the Crime Branch of Bhagora for the purpose of port said. given — Ram Gopal Yadav 2008 is pending with the an “appropriate investigating the Delhi Police, then Lok winning them over to vote in Finally, it said Sudheendra (Samajwadi Party), Vijay Ku- Crime Branch of the Delhi agency.” That report was Sabha Secretary General favour of the government. Kulkarni (at that time politi- mar Malhotra (BJP) and Mo- Police and no charge sheet placed in the Lok Sabha in P.D.T. Achary told The cal aide to BJP leader L.K. Ad- hammad Salim (Communist has been filed as yet. December 2008. Hindu. Facts meriting attention vani) was found to have Party of India-Marxist). But It was handed over to the The cash displayed by Bha- That report came to the A smaller player in the dra- “facilitated the giving of all agreed that the entire mat- police in January 2009 for ratiya (BJP) MP conclusion there was no di- ma, Sanjeev Saxena, was seen bribes to members [of Parlia- ter needed to be probed further investigations after Ashok Argal during the de- rect or conclusive proof of the by the committee as a bribe- ment]” as by his own admis- further.

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