BANGALORE: Former prime minister V P Singh Friday said the Congress-I President Rajiv Gandhi was using the Chandra Shekhar government as a political duster. And will throw it away after utilizing it.
He told reporters that Gandhi was writing letters to Chandra Shekhar every day and alleged that the prime minister was at the total mercy of Rajiv Gandhi.
Replying to a question whether there was any possibility of Gandhi taking over as prime minister from Chandra Shekhar Singh said two maneuvers are the game let us see who will outmaneuver whom
In the game of power national priorities were being jeopardized he added.
He asked the Chandra Shekhar government to show evidence of any of his cabinet colleagues alleged links with the LTTE.
The evidence shown to Jaipal Reddy his party colleague had been publicly rejected he said.
V P Singh also charged that the first Indian link with the LTTE in Sri Lanka was provided by Rajiv Gandhi who as the then prime minister had supplied arms to LTTE
Singh called for an immediate review of article 356 as the Chandra Shekhar government had misused it-as a political weapon to remove an elected government of DMK led by M Karunanidhi in Tamil Nadu
From our National Front side and the Janata Dal side we are committed to amend article 356 and we would work for it Singh said.
Asked if was the National Front was not going closer to the BJP on this issue since the BJP also wanted the abrogation of Article 356 Mr Singh quipped: Our line is our line.
He also said that he had sent a telegram to U N secretary general Perez de Cuellar calling upon the UN to take charge of the situation and bring about an immediate ceasefire in the Gulf war
On the refueling of U S war planes in India Singh demanded immediate stoppage of refueling and wanted to know what is the drama going on ? When they can get an elected government dismissed with in no time can’t they stop refueling he asked.
Article extracted from this publication >> February 22, 1991
