A bid to tarnish my reputation: Fernandes

By J. Venkatesan

NEW DELHI, AUG. 24. The former Defence Minister, Mr. George Fernandes, has asserted before the Justice Venkataswami Commission that the allegations and insinuations made against him in the `Tehelka tapes' were false and meant to tarnish his reputation.

In his reply to the notice sent by the Commission, Mr. Fernandes maintained that in all defence procurements, ``I was guided only by considerations of national security and decisions taken by me were based on the advice/inputs of the Armed Forces headquarters and the Defence Ministry''.

Explaining how he brought about transparency in defence procurements, Mr. Fernandes said, ``I took a decision in January 2000 to have a time-bound and mandatory scrutiny by the Comptroller and Auditor-General (CAG) and the Chief Vigilance Commissioner (CVC) of all past, on-going and future defence procurements. Detailed instructions were issued for referring procurement cases to CAG/CVC and the same were being followed''.

On the allegation of Mr. R.K. Jain, former treasurer of the Samata Party that he (Mr. Fernandes) had asked him to lobby for the Advanced Jet Trainer (AJT) manufactured by the Russian MAPO- MiG, the former Minister said, ``all my initiatives with regard to the AJT procurement were based on the appreciation of genuine and urgent requirement. The short-listing of the possible suppliers was done by the IAF and the professional advice of the Air Force was accepted by the Ministry''. On Mr. Jain's claim that the decision to induct the Barak systems was manipulated by him and that he had overruled Dr. Abdul Kalam for the purpose, Mr. Fernandes said, ``it is absolutely false.''. He never had any conversation with Mr. Jain about any defence procurement matter.

On the reference in the Tehelka transcripts by one Mr. Pant that the Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister, Mr. Brajesh Mishra, would order the Defence Minister in defence procurements, Mr. Fernandes maintained that all defence decisions were taken either within the Ministry - in consultation with the Finance Ministry when required - or were taken by the Cabinet Committee on Security and Mr. Mishra never issued directions to the Defence Minister.

The Tehelka tapes were replete with false, vague and baseless allegations, Mr. Fernandes said and reiterated that in defence procurement, he never had any interaction with any outside person and there could be no question of influence by extraneous considerations and no one could dare to approach him with any request in such matters.

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