National
Jaitley defends Fernandes
- PTI
MUMBAI, DEC. 17. Coming to the rescue of the Defence Minister, Mr. George Fernandes, who is in the eye of a storm following the Kargil coffin scam, the Union Law Minister, Mr. Arun Jaitley, today said: ``The observations of the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) about the purchase of aluminium caskets were based on hearsay and not on facts.''
``I have evidence to establish my claim,'' Mr. Jaitley said without elaborating, at a news conference after addressing party workers on the issue of the controversial Prevention of Terrorism Ordinance (POTO).
Mr. Fernandes had sent the file containing documents of procurement of the caskets to the CAG though the latter had not sought it, Mr. Jaitley said. On December 13, Mr. Fernandes was to make a statement on the floor of the House about the issue but the House was adjourned.
``The Government has nothing to hide and we are ready to discuss the matter in Parliament,'' Mr. Jaitley said. ``Usually, the Public Accounts Committee fixes responsibility for the lapse following a CAG report but for the sake of Opposition we can take up the matter for debate in the House.''
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