HYDERBAD: At time when nothing seems going right for be leaguered former Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao, his son has provided some moral support by coming out strongly in his de fence. P.V. Ranga Rao, the former State Education Minister, has said his father is innocent and he would be proved innocent in the court. Speaking at a press conference here on Tuesday, Mr. Ranga Rao described the charges against his father as “baseless and false in situations”. In his 50yearlong political career, Mr. Narsimha Rao had never been charged with corruption nor had he ever misused any position he held, the former State Education Minister said.
Mr. Ranga Rao is the first person of the former Congress president’s fam in his defense. He also said given the manner in which charges had been leveled against Mr. Narasimha Rao, the institution of the Prime Minister has become vulnerable when earlier it was “nationally and internationally venerable.” it is Mr. Narasimha Rao; tomorrow it may be Deve Gowda and day after tomorrow someone else. The Prime Minister of the country will become hesitant to meet any persons, lest changes of corruption and bribe taking is love less at him.” Interestingly Mr. Ranga Rao’s relations with his father had been strained for a long time until now on Tuesday, however, he also strongly defended his much maligned father not only against the charges of corruption but also on other charges such as failure in running the country. He said the charges of corruption against the Prime Minister was weakening the country’s democratic system and “even the judicial system of the country should ponder over these points”
“My father was never a slave to money or power and he never as pried for anything, I believe that power and money are good servants but bad masters and my father also holds the same view.” When asked why Mr. Narasimha. Rao was the target of some many charges of corruption and wrong doing which no other Prim e Minister of the country had to face, Mr.. Ranga Rao said he was also curious to know about it. He felt his father was passing through a bad patch. “I am not saying that there is a conspiracy behind it,” he added hastily. When quizzed about the charges against the other members of the Rao family, particularly his younger brother P.V. Prabhaker Rao, Mr. Ranga Rao: said, “Everybody is innocent un Jess proved otherwise. Ironically, the onus of proving one’s innocence is put on the accused.” Mr. Ranga Rao stoutly denied having ever said his father had committed some mistakes. “I respect and love my father and I can never say such things.”
Article extracted from this publication >> October 9, 1996
