11-29-2005, 12:37 AM
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->After Natwar who? Seven more Congressmen
Vijay Simha
Tehelka
November 19, 2005
Introduction: Several leaders of the Congress and other parties may have explaining to do if the probe catches up with them
Congress leaders other than former external affairs minister Natwar Singh and his son could be involved in the Iraq oil-for-food scam. Big or small, the role of many partymen is being looked at again in light of the Volcker report that listed the Congress party as one of the beneficiaries.
Party circles are afraid that this could be another Bofors in the making, and very little is being taken for granted. <b>Speculation in circles considered close to 10 Janpath is that the image of Congress president Sonia Gandhi may be seriously hurt if things get out of hand.</b>
"The damage could be more than just emotional if we are not careful," said a member of the Congress Working Committee, who is also among the core party group entrusted with looking at the Volcker report and its fallout for the party.
Among the people whose Iraq connecÂtions are being looked at anew are:
1) a chief minister of a northern state known to be close to Natwar Singh,
2) a union minisÂter of state with independent charge,
3) an AICC secretary,
4) a high-profile member of the Rajya Sabha who is considered close to lo Janpath,
5) a former union minister and current PCC president of a northern state,
6) a former general secretary of the Rajasthan Youth Congress unit, and
7) a young Haryana Cabinet minister.
Apart from these, the role of at least two businessmen, one of whom was arrested in a bribery case in the past, is being looked at.
The chief minister, for example, is susÂpect because of alleged proximity to people involved in money laundering in the oil-for Âfood scandal. The union minister is alleged to have spent four weeks in Iraq as Saddam Hussein's guest. This minister was one of the AICC secretaries at that time, and the questions being asked are if he had clearÂance from Sonia and Natwar as well in his capacity as head of the Congress External Affairs Cell. <b>It is mandatory Congress procedure for AICC office-bearers to seek clearance from the party president for a foreign tour.</b>
The crucial query aimed at this minister is whether he went to Iraq to confirm to Saddam Hussein that the Congress party had endorsed the allotment of oil coupons to Natwar and his family, as well as the Congress party. This minister was associatÂed with youth organisations and was also head of the Indo-Iraqi Youth Friendship Society, whose existence today is in doubt. Some Congress leaders suggest the Society may have been a front even when the minister was involved.
The AICC secretary was closely associated with Natwar's son Jagat Singh when he was in the Youth Congress. This secretary was also involved in naming a controversial youth leader as one of the Raiasthan Youth Congress office-bearers. <b>Indian and American intelligence agencies were interÂested in the office-bearer,</b> and the AICC secÂretary's role in all this is being scrutinised.
The Rajya Sabha member had apparently introduced the controversial Rajasthan Youth Congress leaders to several seniors both in and outside the party. This Rajya Sabha member is also said to have travelled to Iraq in the company of the PCC president and the Rajasthan Youth Congress leader. The Rajasthan leader is probably one of the leadÂing lights of Hamdan Export, one of the Firms in the centre of the oil-for-food scandal.
The Rajya Sabha member is believed to have brought Jagat and the Rajasthan youth leader together. He is also believed to have a hand in the awarding of a contract to fabricate 75,000 gas cylinders in 2004 to the Rajasthan Youth Congressman. The businessman arrested in the past is underÂstood to have opened an office in Jordan, and also made the Youth Congressman a director in the board of that company. The Rajya Sabha member is believed to have facilitated this.
The PCC president is said to have written to senior diplomats in India and Iraq highÂlighting the business credentials of the Youth Congressman. With such backing it became easy for the Youth Congressman to get around. His role is seen as big in the scam that has hit Natwar and Jagat. This person is believed to have travelled to Iraq with Natwar and Jagat, and was also conÂsidered close to Saddam.
The Haryana minister allowed Jagat to travel to Iraq when he was in the Youth Congress. The questions asked of this Haryana minister is whether he had the clearance from Sonia before he allowed Jagat to tour. This minister is also being asked if he allowed other Youth Congress office-bearers to tour Iraq.
With such names being drawn into the affair that is getting murkier by the day, the Congress leadership is worried that the party's stock might take a beating. All this may have prompted swift action on Natwar, at least in the circles opposed to him in the Congress. However, it isn't just the Congress that has problems with Iraq.
The oil-for-food scam took place when the NDA government headed by Atal Behari Vajpayee was in power. NDA convener George Fernandes' proximity with Iraq, and the trips made by Vijay Goel, then minister in the PMO, are being mentioned. Should the Congress unearth something here, the battle between the Congress and the BJP might be closer than what it appears now with the BJP looking for the moral edge in the Iraq issue.
In this backdrop, Natwar may just be the first to go and not the only one. According to sources close to him, Natwar made a few mistakes. First, he thought his royal backÂground might help. Second, he overestimatÂed his proximity to Sonia. Third, he underÂestimated the moral indignation on the issue. Fourth, he minimised the ill-will genÂerated by Jagat's doings. Fifth, he thought he could take on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, with whom he has been having problems over foreign policy. Sixth, he rushed to the Left to save his job thus sugÂgesting he didn't totally trust senior Congress colleagues.
That was heavy baggage. Sonia, in particular, was fuming. Natwar was one of the few Congress leaders with whom she would dine. Natwar was on first-name basis with Sonia, some leaders suggest. She didn't expect Natwar to be even remotely involved with a scam in Iraq. "Sonia's sense of righteousness was aroused. So she did, something she didn't even in the case of absconding ministers - she told Manmohan to get rid of Natwar," a senior Union minister said.
Natwar got wind of this and went balÂlistic. He named four people as the ones plotting against him - Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee, AICC general secretary Ambika Soni, Petroleum Minister Mani Shankar Aiyar, and Raiya Sabha member Jairam Ramesh. Mukherjee and Soni are apparently fighting for the same space around Sonia that Natwar was. Aiyar has in the past ribbed Natwar, famously on one occasion in St Stephen's the college where both studied.
Apparently Natwar wrote in the St Stephen's visitor's book that he was what he was because of his alma mater. Aiyar saw this and scribbled 'why blame the co liege'. This may have upset Natwar, some Congressmen say. With Jairam Ramesh, the problem is of a different nature. Apparently Ramesh and Aneil Mathrani, Natwar's OSD, don't get along. Sources say Ramesh spread the word that the Indian government recalled Mathrani from his post in Zagreb as Ambassador to Croatia. Natwar and Mathrani didn't like it.
Even if the four people named had ganged up, it wouldn't have hurt him much. What made the difference was Natwar's rushing to the Left, and voicÂing opinions on the foreign policy, mainly Iran, contrary to the Pm's posiÂtion. It made things difficult for Manmohan when Natwar said India should reverse its stand on Iran if the issue went to the United Nations.
Between Manmohan and Natwar, Sonia chose Manmohan. However, Natwar knows secrets. He's been around a longtime, and can make things uncomfortable for the Congress should he choose to. He's been with the Congress M in the past, and can part again if he so feels. There's nothing much that either he or the Congress loses if they go different ways. Some Congress leaders suggest that Natwar may be accommodated as Governor.
For the moment, though, the Volcker Report is giving the party heebie-jeebies. The party is aware of the embarÂrassment it brought on itself by the ridiculous move to sue the United Nations. Though there are several legal eagles like R Chidambaram, HR Bharadwaj, Abhishek Singhvi, RK Anand, and Ranganath Misra in the Congress, none could prevent the silly statement.
Even now no one is quite sure which way things will go. Seven party funcÂtionaries are under a cloud. More may be on the way.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Vijay Simha
Tehelka
November 19, 2005
Introduction: Several leaders of the Congress and other parties may have explaining to do if the probe catches up with them
Congress leaders other than former external affairs minister Natwar Singh and his son could be involved in the Iraq oil-for-food scam. Big or small, the role of many partymen is being looked at again in light of the Volcker report that listed the Congress party as one of the beneficiaries.
Party circles are afraid that this could be another Bofors in the making, and very little is being taken for granted. <b>Speculation in circles considered close to 10 Janpath is that the image of Congress president Sonia Gandhi may be seriously hurt if things get out of hand.</b>
"The damage could be more than just emotional if we are not careful," said a member of the Congress Working Committee, who is also among the core party group entrusted with looking at the Volcker report and its fallout for the party.
Among the people whose Iraq connecÂtions are being looked at anew are:
1) a chief minister of a northern state known to be close to Natwar Singh,
2) a union minisÂter of state with independent charge,
3) an AICC secretary,
4) a high-profile member of the Rajya Sabha who is considered close to lo Janpath,
5) a former union minister and current PCC president of a northern state,
6) a former general secretary of the Rajasthan Youth Congress unit, and
7) a young Haryana Cabinet minister.
Apart from these, the role of at least two businessmen, one of whom was arrested in a bribery case in the past, is being looked at.
The chief minister, for example, is susÂpect because of alleged proximity to people involved in money laundering in the oil-for Âfood scandal. The union minister is alleged to have spent four weeks in Iraq as Saddam Hussein's guest. This minister was one of the AICC secretaries at that time, and the questions being asked are if he had clearÂance from Sonia and Natwar as well in his capacity as head of the Congress External Affairs Cell. <b>It is mandatory Congress procedure for AICC office-bearers to seek clearance from the party president for a foreign tour.</b>
The crucial query aimed at this minister is whether he went to Iraq to confirm to Saddam Hussein that the Congress party had endorsed the allotment of oil coupons to Natwar and his family, as well as the Congress party. This minister was associatÂed with youth organisations and was also head of the Indo-Iraqi Youth Friendship Society, whose existence today is in doubt. Some Congress leaders suggest the Society may have been a front even when the minister was involved.
The AICC secretary was closely associated with Natwar's son Jagat Singh when he was in the Youth Congress. This secretary was also involved in naming a controversial youth leader as one of the Raiasthan Youth Congress office-bearers. <b>Indian and American intelligence agencies were interÂested in the office-bearer,</b> and the AICC secÂretary's role in all this is being scrutinised.
The Rajya Sabha member had apparently introduced the controversial Rajasthan Youth Congress leaders to several seniors both in and outside the party. This Rajya Sabha member is also said to have travelled to Iraq in the company of the PCC president and the Rajasthan Youth Congress leader. The Rajasthan leader is probably one of the leadÂing lights of Hamdan Export, one of the Firms in the centre of the oil-for-food scandal.
The Rajya Sabha member is believed to have brought Jagat and the Rajasthan youth leader together. He is also believed to have a hand in the awarding of a contract to fabricate 75,000 gas cylinders in 2004 to the Rajasthan Youth Congressman. The businessman arrested in the past is underÂstood to have opened an office in Jordan, and also made the Youth Congressman a director in the board of that company. The Rajya Sabha member is believed to have facilitated this.
The PCC president is said to have written to senior diplomats in India and Iraq highÂlighting the business credentials of the Youth Congressman. With such backing it became easy for the Youth Congressman to get around. His role is seen as big in the scam that has hit Natwar and Jagat. This person is believed to have travelled to Iraq with Natwar and Jagat, and was also conÂsidered close to Saddam.
The Haryana minister allowed Jagat to travel to Iraq when he was in the Youth Congress. The questions asked of this Haryana minister is whether he had the clearance from Sonia before he allowed Jagat to tour. This minister is also being asked if he allowed other Youth Congress office-bearers to tour Iraq.
With such names being drawn into the affair that is getting murkier by the day, the Congress leadership is worried that the party's stock might take a beating. All this may have prompted swift action on Natwar, at least in the circles opposed to him in the Congress. However, it isn't just the Congress that has problems with Iraq.
The oil-for-food scam took place when the NDA government headed by Atal Behari Vajpayee was in power. NDA convener George Fernandes' proximity with Iraq, and the trips made by Vijay Goel, then minister in the PMO, are being mentioned. Should the Congress unearth something here, the battle between the Congress and the BJP might be closer than what it appears now with the BJP looking for the moral edge in the Iraq issue.
In this backdrop, Natwar may just be the first to go and not the only one. According to sources close to him, Natwar made a few mistakes. First, he thought his royal backÂground might help. Second, he overestimatÂed his proximity to Sonia. Third, he underÂestimated the moral indignation on the issue. Fourth, he minimised the ill-will genÂerated by Jagat's doings. Fifth, he thought he could take on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, with whom he has been having problems over foreign policy. Sixth, he rushed to the Left to save his job thus sugÂgesting he didn't totally trust senior Congress colleagues.
That was heavy baggage. Sonia, in particular, was fuming. Natwar was one of the few Congress leaders with whom she would dine. Natwar was on first-name basis with Sonia, some leaders suggest. She didn't expect Natwar to be even remotely involved with a scam in Iraq. "Sonia's sense of righteousness was aroused. So she did, something she didn't even in the case of absconding ministers - she told Manmohan to get rid of Natwar," a senior Union minister said.
Natwar got wind of this and went balÂlistic. He named four people as the ones plotting against him - Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee, AICC general secretary Ambika Soni, Petroleum Minister Mani Shankar Aiyar, and Raiya Sabha member Jairam Ramesh. Mukherjee and Soni are apparently fighting for the same space around Sonia that Natwar was. Aiyar has in the past ribbed Natwar, famously on one occasion in St Stephen's the college where both studied.
Apparently Natwar wrote in the St Stephen's visitor's book that he was what he was because of his alma mater. Aiyar saw this and scribbled 'why blame the co liege'. This may have upset Natwar, some Congressmen say. With Jairam Ramesh, the problem is of a different nature. Apparently Ramesh and Aneil Mathrani, Natwar's OSD, don't get along. Sources say Ramesh spread the word that the Indian government recalled Mathrani from his post in Zagreb as Ambassador to Croatia. Natwar and Mathrani didn't like it.
Even if the four people named had ganged up, it wouldn't have hurt him much. What made the difference was Natwar's rushing to the Left, and voicÂing opinions on the foreign policy, mainly Iran, contrary to the Pm's posiÂtion. It made things difficult for Manmohan when Natwar said India should reverse its stand on Iran if the issue went to the United Nations.
Between Manmohan and Natwar, Sonia chose Manmohan. However, Natwar knows secrets. He's been around a longtime, and can make things uncomfortable for the Congress should he choose to. He's been with the Congress M in the past, and can part again if he so feels. There's nothing much that either he or the Congress loses if they go different ways. Some Congress leaders suggest that Natwar may be accommodated as Governor.
For the moment, though, the Volcker Report is giving the party heebie-jeebies. The party is aware of the embarÂrassment it brought on itself by the ridiculous move to sue the United Nations. Though there are several legal eagles like R Chidambaram, HR Bharadwaj, Abhishek Singhvi, RK Anand, and Ranganath Misra in the Congress, none could prevent the silly statement.
Even now no one is quite sure which way things will go. Seven party funcÂtionaries are under a cloud. More may be on the way.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->