Jain panel report: One more stick for the Cong to beat UF with

Incidentally, the interim report deals with the sequence of events and the circumstances that led to Rajiv Gandhi’s assassination. The report on the actual conspiracy behind the killing is still not ready.

The interim report says that “the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi would not have been possible the way it was carried out without a nexus between the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) and the Tamils in Tamil Nadu and tacit support from the state government and law enforcement agencies.”

From this general indictment, it narrows down to severe criticism of the DMK and M Karunanidhi. According to para 73.32: “From the evaluation of the material, the conclusion is irresistible that there was tacit support to the LTTE by Shri M Karunanidhi and his Government and law-enforcement agencies.”The report also criticises the V P Singh and Chandra Shekhar governments for their alleged nonchalance towards Rajiv’s security needs and threat perceptions.

Initial reactions to the report, however, do not point to a major political upheaval. Much will depend on the Congress and whether it is ready to go the whole hog and pull down the Gujral government or not.

The DMK, for its part, is preparing for the duel ahead. Early this week, there were indications that the party would withdraw its three Union ministers, ostensibly over its dissatisfaction over the Cauvery river water dispute with Karnataka, but continue its support to the UF government from the outside.

Now it’s drawing strength from the references made in the report to the role of other parties, including the Congress, in the events leading to Rajiv’s assassination.

“How will the Congress explain the role of Indira Gandhi in nurturing the LTTE?” asked a DMK leader. Said another: “The DMK was dismissed once for its alleged links with the LTTE. How can it be punished twice?”

This will be the general tenor of the United Front’s defence. Reflecting the strategy, CPI leader D Raja said today: “The LTTE was not the creation of one party alone. The role of any one party should not be seen in isolation.” He also said that the Congress would not dare withdraw support to the government on this issue.

Officially, the Congress has said that it will wait for an authenticated report to be placed in Parliament. “We will formulate our policy after that,” said senior Congressman Pranab Mukherjee.

Congress president Sitaram Kesri has been reported as saying: “I have not read the report. But there is no link (between withdrawal of support to the UF and the findings of the report.) Others in the Congress, including K Vijayabhaskara Reddy have been more categorical: “If it is true, it is difficult for us to support the government.”

Partymen among the hardcore Rajiv loyalists are expected to use the report to reinforce their pro-Sonia credentials. For example, Arjun Singh and Jitendra Prasada, who have a good equation with Sonia are expected to push the party to adopt a hard line.

The other player which should logically take a tough posture is the Tamil Maanila Congress. But the TMC, unlike the Congress, is part of the United Front and has a major stake at the Centre and in Tamil Nadu. Whether it will target the DMK at this stage and jeopardise its relations with its electoral ally isn’t clear yet.

At the same time, it cannot be seen to remain silent after all the noises its leaders — including P Chidambaram and G K Moopanar — made in the past about the tardy progress of the Jain Commission’s work. It is a dilemma the TMC will have to face up to.

Thus they reacted…