Natwar caught on wrong foot Volcker report

Well the above statement of the minister could be a good shield for him against his political opponents but for the general public, who takes the position of Natwar Singh in high esteem, it might be just another rhetoric delivered by any politician facing a charge.

Of course this is not for the first time that any political figure has to face an overcast of accusations and allegations in one bungling or the other nor is there anything new in the fact that the accused is trying his level best to defend himself by all the means and tactics available to him.

But what comes, as a surprise to the common man is the obstinacy in feeling the guilt, which is bound to come with such a charge. The truth of the story is still in oblivion but until it is discovered and the cloud of doubt that hovers around and above the minister in charge of the strategically significant ministry of 8216;Foreign Affairs8217; is a cue enough for the responsible office bearer of the country to act according to the high profile of the office.

The independent inquiry committee headed by Paul A. Volcker names almost 2,400 firms and individuals who paid the Saddam regime money under the guise of United Nations8217; Oil-for-Food-Programme. The significance of the list lies in the fact that the alleged names of the accused firms and individuals runs across Germany, France, India, Russia Australia and even England.

In the light of the above fact it is very ludicrous on part Natwar Singh to say that the report is especially calibrated against him or his party.

Not surprisingly enough Volcker in one his statements to the press clarified that he is not even aware whether Natwar Singh was a Foreign Minister of India.

It is significant to note that the firms named by the committee owe their origin in countries such as Britain, Germany, Sweden and Australia including firms from India, which counts to more than a hundred. Now if the report were to have something against those, who were-anti-US or even the anti-chairman, at least Britain would have escaped the charge. But on the contrary even a British firm finds its mention in the list of the accused.

The politicians named in the report include those from Russia, France, Britain and India. But from no quarters has the response of the politicians has been as unfortunate as those from the Indian minister.

It is difficult to believe how an individual minister could be a target of the whims of a particular person, country or committee, when he is not the only one to bear the allegations levied against them.

In his fit of defending himself, he highlighted the equations between the nations to 8216;prove8217; how he could be an easy target for those powers bent to malign him and his party. But he should remember that in a very recent past it was his very own party, which supported the nation accused by the minister on the question of 8216;Possession of nukes by Iran8217;. How could the minister in defiance of all the available logic and facts could be blatant enough to blame a country, which has been supported by the minister8217;s party on a very strategic issue.

While supporting US on the Iran issue the Congress party had to face the ruthless oppositions from several quarters including the national parties and various other non-governmental organizations including even the public in general.

Natwar Singh is in charge of such a ministry, which is a face of a country outside its boundaries. Moreover he is a very senior leader of the ruling Congress party and thus the onus of responsibility lies more on him than anyone else. There have been cases in the Indian politics, where politicians have shown exemplary code of conduct in such situations irrespective of whether they were directly facing the allegations or not.

But the way this Cabinet Minister is having its own in defiance of all the set and unwritten norms of democratic governance will have a very detrimental effect on the system of the country in the long run.

Manmohan Singh, a competent educationist, known for his transparency and 8216;clean8217; image, heads the present coalition. What better moment for him to siege to show the masses of the country that the Prime Minister stands for what he is generally known by his people. Mere empty rhetoric on part of such an eminent scholar who falls in the line of 8216;different8217; politicians should act in the line of their image.

Where is Sonia Gandhi, who let loose an uproar by denying the post of the Prime Minister, when all the legislators kept pleading before her. Today is the opportunity before her to prove that entire furor that became public in the light of her denial for the coveted post was not a sort of 8216;Soap Opera8217;. If she fails the expectations of the Indian public today to act against one of her loyalists who is adamant not to give up his post no further explanations will help her in future.

The final report of UN8217;s Independent Inquiry Committee headed by former US Federal Reserve chief Paul Volcker mentions Natwar Singh and the Congress party as 8216;non contractual beneficiaries8217; of Iraqi oil sales in 2001.

Just the appearance of the name does not suggest the culpability of the minister or any party but unless the cloud of doubt dissipates the accused ought to toe the time-honoured traditions of the people who have the charge of the high offices.

It could not be fair on part of any individual or party to shield their wrong under the garb of international equations whatever their status might be. Any existing exigency governing the global relations of different countries should be above petty affairs of any party or individual.

Note: The views expressed here are those of the writer and not necessarily those of Expressindia.com.