Posted on Thursday, August 12, 2010 - 03:31 am:

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Finally breaking his silence on several controversial issues related to the Bhopal Gas Tragedy, former Union Minister Arjun Singh on Wednesday took credit for arrest of Union Carbide chairman Warren Anderson, blamed the Narasimha Rao-headed Union Home Ministry for his release, and made elaborate mention about Rajiv Gandhi's enigmatic silence during those traumatic days.

Speaking on the short-duration discussion in the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday on 'recent developments relating to the Bhopal Gas Tragedy', Singh, who is a member of the House, said then PM Rajiv Gandhi had asked him to be in touch "every day".

Singh recalled that Rajiv was in grave mood when he visited Bhopal at 4 pm on December 4, a day after the city was struck by the tragedy. "I offered to resign, which was turned down by the former PM, who enquired about the relief and rehabilitation works," Singh said.

He said, "The news of Rajivji's arrival spread like wildfire. People flocked around him in hope, but ultimately they were overwhelmed with despair," adding, Rajiv asked him to "be in touch with him every day".

Singh further said he got the news that Anderson would visit Bhopal on December 6, the day Rajiv was scheduled to visit Harda village in Hoshangabad district of the State. Singh claimed that he had ordered the arrest of Anderson and told the then Chief Secretary, "We should see that whatever needs to be done be done effectively."

Singh revealed that after Anderson was arrested, he drove straight to Harda to meet Rajiv. "I told him the events of that morning. Rajivji heard me out without making any comment and just said 'let us go to the next (election) meeting'. There was no flicker of sympathy or any kind of sympathy for anyone, much less for Mr Anderson," he said.

Talking about the events leading to Anderson's bailout, Singh said, "The Chief Secretary informed me that there have been persistent calls for granting of bail to Mr Anderson from Home Ministry officials in Delhi. I told him to do whatever he wanted to."

The senior Congress leader expressed dismay over Anderson going back to Delhi by the State plane. "Rajivji never uttered a single word to me for two days he was on tour, either in support of Anderson or trying to mitigate his problems. To blame him would be a figment of imagination," he said.

Singh has said he was surprised by Warren Anderson's "arrogance" when he landed at the Bhopal airport.

"Someone told me that Warren Anderson was coming to Bhopal. I was amazed at the audacity of a person who was aware of what his factory was manufacturing... but he was coming to Bhopal ... for what? At that very moment, I made up my mind that as soon as he lands, he should be arrested. I did not share my decision with anybody .. I did call in the officers concerned and briefed them to arrest Anderson on his arriving. As soon as he stepped down from the plane, the police SP escorted him in a car and told him that he was under custody and they are taking him to his own rest house for detention. He was so surprised when he was told this ... he kept asking ... Why is the CM not here to receive me? ... Imagine the arrogance of the man," said Singh.

Immediately after Singh ended his speech, Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitley said he had tried to shift the blame on those who were no more. "His statement is concealing more than revealing. When the PM had no sympathy for Anderson, why did he (Singh) listen to the Home Ministry?" he asked.

Later, speaking to The Pioneer, CPI(M) member Brinda Karat said Singh had himself admitted that Rajiv was in the know of all the developments taking place on a day-to-day basis.

Incidentally, in a TV interview recently, then Foreign Secretary MK Rasgotra had also said that Anderson was given safe passage and although Rajiv was not consulted, he was informed later and he concurred. At that point of time, Rajiv also held the External Affairs portfolio and Rasgotra directly reported to him.

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Posted on Thursday, August 12, 2010 - 03:25 am:

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When former Union Minister Arjun Singh entered the Lok Sabha in the post-lunch session on a wheelchair, the kind of reception he got was indication enough that he would make a turnaround from his earlier position ("I have no locus standi on the issue"). Holding some papers and placed near the back rows, Singh listened to all the speakers while his fellow party members, including Rajiv Shukla and Vijaya Laxmi Sadho, visited him to ask about his well-being.

Singh was lifted from the wheelchair and made to sit on the last row. Sadho got him a glass of water. It was evident that the papers he was holding were vetted by senior Congress leaders, particularly Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee.

Mukherjee sat beside Singh and pointed towards a certain portion of a particular page. It seemed as if he wanted to remind Singh that it was an important point and must be read. When Singh nodded, Mukherjee got up and resumed his seat in the front row.

The former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister's body language hinted at the loaded speech he was going to deliver in the House. By the time he finished his piece, there was ample proof that though he was blaming the then Home Minister PV Narasimha Rao, he was actually aiming higher. Ravi Shankar Prasad (BJP) commented, "He is getting a lot of attention."

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Posted on Wednesday, August 11, 2010 - 06:00 pm:

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Ishan:

veedantha worst politician ee prapancham lo undadu

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Posted on Wednesday, August 11, 2010 - 12:54 pm:

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Pavala:

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Posted on Wednesday, August 11, 2010 - 12:49 pm:

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Pavala:

Arjun Singh

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