NEW DELHI: An act of forwarding an allegedly forged letter by Devi Lal to the prime minister VP ‘Singh came in for criticism by several members at a meeting of the federal cabinet during which they demanded some action be taken in the matter.
Devi Lal had recently forwarded a copy of a letter allegedly written by V.P.Singh to the President in 1987 implicating the Commerce Minister Arun Nehru for receiving payoffs in the Bofors gun deal. Singh has given the letter to investigating agencies,
The 100 minute cabinet meeting presided over by VP Singh took up issues the govt is likely to take up in the coming monsoon session of parliament beginning Aug 7.
Senior ministers expressed concern over the use of forged documents in pursuit of intra party rivalry but did not specify the action to be taken, the sources said.
As a fallout of the meeting, the prime minister is likely to consult the parties supporting the government soon and National Front partners after that before taking a decision.
At the end of the meeting, Devi Lal refused to say anything on what transpired there, I have no comment to make, “he said firmly.
Side by side hectic political activity was witnessed in the capital, with the Janata Dal president S.R.Bommai taking a lead role in attempting to defuse the snow balling crisis. Sources said Devi Lal sought to explain his action by saying that he had no intention to pass off any forged documents but had only transmitted what had come his way to the prime minister. He was also not opposed to any injury into the alleged forgery.
Sources said, the prime minister was firm that such acts did not do well to the image of the govt and party. He demanded the original letter and not its photocopy.
Bommai individually met V.P. Singh, Devi Lal, finance minister Madhu Danda Vate, home minister Mufti Sayed, Arun Nehru and civil aviation minister Arif Mohammad Khan.
Source says, the ministers were not satisfied with seeking just an apology from Devi Lal. At the meeting, senior ministers were also distraught with the recurring crises involving Devi Lal which was damaging the government’s credibility.
During the meeting with Devi Lal, sources said, Bommai is understood to have conveyed the prime minister’s unhappiness over the news reports of certain adverse remarks against VP Singh in recent interviews. According to an aide of the DPM, Devi Lal told Bommai that he had nothing against VP Singh and extended his full support to him.
Article extracted from this publication >> August 3, 1990
