On Kargil shopping, UPA clears NDA

Reacting to the Government move, Fernandes said the affidavit vindicated his stand. ‘‘I am happy that the Government has filed the affidavit in court. The truth has been brought out. I thank the government,’’ he told reporters.

He demanded that the 700-page report of the Justice S N Phukan Commission of Inquiry, which looked into the Tehelka sting on arms deals, be tabled in Parliament and the CVC reports be made public.

As word spread that the Government had cleared Fernandes, the Defence ministry issued a statement late in the night to clarify that it had not given him any clean chit.

‘‘There was no question of giving a clean chit to any person, much less George Fernandes. The affidavit does not not even refer to or mention any person, much less George Fernandes. Therefore, the inference which is sought to be drawn that a clean chit has been given to George Fernandes is unjustified and totally unwarranted,’’ an official release stated.

The Government affidavit was filed in response to a notice by the Supreme Court on a PIL which asked the Centre to explain the action taken on the CAG report that had pointed to irregularities in the Kargil war purchases.

This is what the Centre’s affidavit to the Supreme Court stated:

‘‘In view of the situation arising from hostilities in Kargil, the Ministry of Defence issued a modified procedure for expeditious procurement during the said conflict. The Government order issued with the approval of the competent authority, i.e. the then Defence Minister, envisaged modifications in the procurement procedure applicable for the duration of Operation Vijay for items specifically required for Operation Vijay.’’

‘‘The modified procedure issued on June 21, 1999 was not to substitute or supercede the prescribed procedure for normal procurement actions. The modified procedure was meant only to telescope the time frame particularly for imports that had become critical keeping in view the intensity of operations and unpredictability of the situation on the period for which the operation would last… These in no way violated any of the financial rules of the Government or the Defence Procurement Procedure, 1992.’’

‘‘On the nature and actual delivery of items, at the time of making projections, the duration of operations, the nature and levels of conflict and the possibility of spread of the conflict to other areas could not have been predicted.Moreover, the weapons, equipment and ammunition required by the Defence Forces are generally not available off the shelf and a lead time which can range from 4 to 18 months is required to produce and deliver them after conclusion of a contract.’’