Fernandes is right person for Defence: Jaswant Singh

By Neena Vyas

NEW DELHI, OCT. 14. There seems to be a strong probability of the Samata Party leader, Mr. George Fernandes, getting back the Defence Minister's job tomorrow despite the recent comment of the Venkataswami Commission that the Tehelka tapes were genuine. The other contender for the Defence portfolio is the Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission and Centre's interlocutor in Kashmir, Mr. K.C. Pant.

Besides, the second man who is expected to be inducted is Mr. Harin Pathak, formerly Minister of State for Defence, who was forced to resign after a chargesheet was framed against him in a criminal case. But he has been acquitted since then.

Although no one was sure who would be inducted into the Cabinet tomorrow when the small but significant swearing-in takes place, Bharatiya Janata Party sources were of the view that Mr. Fernandes would be taken back in the job from which he had to resign following the Tehelka scandal.

Talking to a television channel today, Mr. Jaswant Singh, External Affairs Minister who holds the additional charge of Defence, praised Mr. Fernandes as the ``right person to take over the responsibility (of Defence) in the present circumstances.'' From Agra, Mr. Venkaiah Naidu, Minister for Rural Development, strongly criticised opposition parties for making loud noises about Mr. Fernandes being tainted by Tehelka. His view was that the opposition had no moral right to talk like this as during the previous regimes many tainted persons were holding Cabinet positions.

Other leaders of the BJP who did not want to be identified were also of the view that ``Mr. George Fernandes was expected to be inducted as the Defence Minister tomorrow, although we cannot be sure.''

Although it seems that there is some opposition to this move within the BJP, the calculation could be that Mr. Fernandes would be more dangerous for the stability of the National Democratic Alliance Government if left outside than when inside. On the other hand, there are some senior Cabinet Ministers who will not at all be comfortable with the reinduction of Mr. Fernandes.

There is also some speculation on a possible change in the portfolios of some Ministers, including Mr. Sharad Yadav and Mr. Shahnawaz Hussain. Mr. Yadav, who is known to be against the labour reforms being contemplated by the Government may be given some other portfolio - and he was known to be unhappy when he was shifted out from Civil Aviation to Labour in the last induction and reshuffle - and Mr. Hussain may also be shifted out of Civil Aviation as a result of the recent hoax hijack.

Apparently, Mr. Yadav met the Prime Minister yesterday over some other matter. Reports suggest that he was asked by the Prime Minister whether he would like to be moved out of Labour to some other ministry to which Mr. Yadav is believed to have responded by saying it was entirely his prerogative.

Trinamool stand

PTI reports from Kolkatta:

The Trinamool Congress has strongly advocated the reinduction of Mr. George Fernandes into the Union Cabinet.

``I have heard that the (Venkataswami) commission probing the Tehelka expose had not found any evidence against Mr. Fernandes... I will be happy if he returns (to the Cabinet),'' the Trinamool Congress chief, Ms. Mamata Banerjee, told newsmen today.

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Section  : Front Page
Previous : Bush rejects Taliban's offer on Osama
Next     : Sonia warns PM about 'perilous' situation