BJP trying to break Opposition: Gowda

By Our Special Correspondent

CHENNAI, APRIL 18. The former Prime Minister, Mr. H.D. Deve Gowda, today alleged that the ruling BJP was trying to break Opposition parties to ensure its majority in Parliament and thus stall the demand for a JPC probe into the Tehelka expose.

According to Mr. Gowda, the NDA Government's credibility was now ``in the mud'', following the tehelka.com episode which had showed the role of middlemen in defence deals.

While the Opposition parties were categorically demanding a JPC inquiry, the Government was stalling such a move saying that it would be decided only ``by the House'', knowing well that such a demand could be defeated in the Lok Sabha because of the NDA's present majority.

Still, the BJP was trying to maintain this majority by breaking other parties. In an apparent reference to Mr. Ajit Panja's outbursts against the Trinamool Congress leadership, he said this was being masterminded by the BJP ``which is no longer a party of saintly persons as is made out to be''.

Mr. Gowda questioned the need for an inquiry by a retired Supreme Court judge into the Tehelka issue. ``For the first time, the PMO's senior bureaucrats, a Principal Secretary and the Prime Minister's kith and kin were allegedly involved.

What is the role of the judicial inquiry, and what would be its depth, I do not know or understand. Prima facie a case was established and three staffers were suspended. Though, the Prime Minister had said the (former) Defence Minister, Mr. George Fernandes, was not involved, persons had been caught red-handed and some officers made certain confession.

''Then where is the need by a scrutiny for a commission of inquiry,`` the former Prime Minister demanded to know and said the Government should have registered a case and gone ahead with the investigation directly.

On this front, he said it was time the CBI and other investigating agencies were freed from the ''clutches of the Government and brought directly under the President, like the Comptroller and Auditor General``.

Regarding the Assembly elections in five States, Mr. Gowda said the party would lay stress in its campaign on the issues concerning farmers.

Contending that the recent lifting of quantitative restrictions on more than 1,400 items would seriously affect Indian farm sector, Mr. Gowda said this showed the Government's continued neglect of the agricultural sector, on which a majority of people depended on for livelihood.

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