Author: RV Pandit
Publication: The Hindustan Times
Date: February 10, 2002
Ever since my booklet, "The Whole
Truth with Documents, about the Aluminium Caskets Bought by the Defence
Ministry in 1999-2000", landed in the mail boxes of editors and MPs two
weeks ago, many recipients are wondering what George Fernandes is up to.
"Mr Pandit, could you please write
for us about the coffins booklet. Fernandes has sent us a copy and suggested
that we so something," a caller from a newspaper pleads.
I have seen letter Fernandes has
sent. He draws attention to the truth this writer has documented in the
booklet, and asks how the Press reconciles this truth with what it had
published on December 11/12, 2001.
"The Press was irresponsible in
publishing what it wrote then, and if you now believe what I have written
to be the truth, then make amends. The Press is unfair to Fernandes," I
told the journalist. "But that's why we want you to write," the caller
persists. "Write why you wrote the booklet," he urged. That got me.
We are a strange people. Hardly
anybody has asked where the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) has fibbed,
how the Press has lied, why the Opposition has enlarged those lies about
the purchase of caskets for the Army. But Somnath Chatterjee wants to know
why I wrote the booklet.
My credentials as a crusader against
corruption have been recognised by no less than the Supreme Court. I've
been quoted over two pages in the Common Cause vs Union of India case (April
4, 1996) on corruption.
Jaipal Reddy wants to know how secret
and confidential documents were given to me by the Ministry of Defence
when just a glance at the documents produced in the booklet will convince
anyone that these do not deserve even a 'restricted' label.
The real story
I will answer all these questions.
During the Kargil War, I was involved in the very successful 'Rogue Army
Out' advertising campaign for the US and Europe and, in the process, visited
the Palam base in New Delhi where bodies of martyred troops were being
brought from the front.
Wooden coffins, bodies stuffed inside,
national flag draped around. Guards. Ceremony. Lots of media. Fine. But
some coffins were emitting odour, some had body fluids trickling out. "India
is primitive in handling the war dead, hypocritical in this show of respect,"
I reckoned. In this background, when I read The Times of India report titled
"Money was made even from Kargil coffins, says CAG" on December 11, 2001,
I knew instantly that this was not true - there were no aluminium caskets
during or even immediately after the Kargil War. The Times of India report
itself acknowledged that the first batch arrived in March 2001!
Not unnaturally, I followed up by
obtaining a copy of the CAG Review. What I read made me decide, then and
there, that I must expose the CAG and The Times of India.
I am not new to taking on the mighty.
At a time when most people would not even dare to criticise Jawaharlal
Nehru, I took on his favoured Finance Minister TT Krishnamachari, for lying
on the Mundhra scam. I published an expose, 'Lies of TTK', authored by
AD Gorwala, from my home address since no publisher would touch the booklet.
I stalled his re-induction for some
time at least by republishing the pamphlet when Nehru wanted him back.
Somnath Chatterjee says Fernandes
has "sponsored" the booklet. He can have a look at my accounts. Incidentally,
I have also contributed to Chatterjee's party, by cheque.
My investigation
The question as to how I obtained
the documents from the Ministry of Defence as also why the Minister gave
the documents to me needs to be answered. I asked to see non-classified
documents only. No problem, I was told. The documents had already been
made available to journalists who had asked for them.
On why the Minister agreed to give
the documents to me, it is obvious he my potential in lifting the shadow
the media and the Opposition had unreasonably sought to cast on his reputation.
Also, I had a credible background. I have no doubt the Minister would have
given the same cooperation that he extended me to any other enterprising
and persistent enquirer.
Some have asked how I managed to
get a sample of the imported caskets for display at my press conference
on January 24, 2001. Simple. I asked for it. Of course, there was bureaucratic
dilly-dallying. But I am persuasive. Also, I can interpret and argue Constitutional
provisions well.
The Press and the politicians always
appear so eager to expose the wrong, the corrupt. Good. But why do the
two shy away from making amends when when it is found that their allegations
are unfounded?
George Fernandes is my friend. I
am proud of the way he is fighting to protect his reputation. Everything
about George is unique, giant size.
His response to his detractors in
Parliament is massive - a personal letter to all the Members of Parliament
and opinion makers, with copies of the booklet. Who paid for the copies?
This writer did.
My booklet has sharply criticised
the CAG for a shoddy job, and the Press, particularly newspapers of The
Times of India group, for their irresponsibility. Yet the CAG is silent.
The Times group is mum. And the Communist Party of India (Marxist) and
the Congress have taken up cudgels on their behalf.
Shouldn't they be held accountable?
Do the Press and the politicians want the word 'sorry' to be obliterated
from the vocabulary of India?
Incidentally, the Coffins controversy
has nothing to do with coffins. Nowhere is the word coffin used in the
CAG Review - the source document of the agitated. Fernandes could still
bury his critics on this count alone.
(The author is a freelance journalist)
