New Delhi: Not even the reference to late Rajiv Gandhi in the St. Kitts case could bail out former Congress president Mr. P.V. Narasimha Rao. Reports from 10. Janpath say there was no aspersion on the late leader’s integrity in the latest charge sheet filed in the case. Sources close to Ms. Sonia Gandhi said there was no mention of Rajiv Gandhi in the latest CBI charge sheet. They, therefore, failed to understand how Rao loyalists could say Rajiy Gandhi’s name was being besmirched, Ms. Sonia Gandhi’s rebuff has come as a damper to Rao loyalists like Janardhana Poojary and Devendra Dwivedi, who sought to raise the Rajiv bogey saying the Rajiv Gandhi’s name might figure at a later stage of the investigation.

There is considerable outrage at 10, Janpath over the “cynical move” of Mr. Rao, who has hardly been on cordial terms with the Gandhi family. “Rajiv Gandhi did not hatch conspiracies against political opponents, so there is no question in his name figuring in the charge sheet,”’ a source close to the family said. Ms. Gandhi’s message that she does not need Rao loyalists to defend Rajiv Gandhi’s reputation, has stymied Mr. Rao’s followers. Mr. Rao, in fact, is yet to call on Ms. Gandhi after stepping down as Congress president, the mood at 10, Janpath has also helped the new ed dispensation to scuttle efforts the Rao camp. Even though in decision on withdrawal of support to the UF Government can only be taken by the Congress Working Committee (CWC), Rao supporters argued he could decide on the matter as the CPP leader.

The movements in the Rao camp had earlier made leaders like K. Karunakaran, Rajesh Pilot and Ghulam Nabi Azad uneasy. Mr. Karunakaran called on Congress president Sitaram Kesri to discuss the situation. Mr. Kesri, however, Said party matters were discussed at the meeting. On the party reconsidering support to the UF regime, he said the CWC decided to extend support to UF to form the Goverment. Now only the CWC is capable of reversing the decision.” Regarding apprehensions that the Rao group would insist on withdrawal of support, Mr, Kesri said there was no plan to call a CWC meeting before September 30, implying that Mr. Kesri was in no mood to alter the party strategy. While some Rao loyalists are still confident that Mr. Kesn would remain true to Mr. Rao, others feel certain the new leader will make his own moves. Despite Mr. Kesri’s acquiescence, he may not be inclined to do Mr. Rao’s bidding Mr. Kesri has told some Rao confidants that they would drum up support for the former Prime Minister.

Article extracted from this publication >>  October 2, 1996