PUNE: While welcoming the release of cine-star Sanjay Dutt here on Oct.16, Union Home Minister S.B. Chavan categorically ruled out the Center reopening the other TADA cases for a review in the light of the Supreme Court’s order.
Responding to queries from reporters, Chavan said there was no “unanimity” among the political parties in Parliament over the legislation to replace TADA.
It may be recalled that although the TADA has already lapsed after the expiry of its tenure, cases registered under the Act before its expiry continue to stand and are being governed by the provisions of the same Act.
Chvan said “consensus” among the political parties on the proposed Legislation to replace the TADA had not emerged so far. Replying to another query, he said it was for the CBI to take appropriate steps in connection with the Chandraswami affair. Chavan on the reported move by his former deputy ‘and now Environment Minister Rajesh Pilot to seek 24-hour CBI monitoring of his own Ministry, remarked, “It is a publicity stunt.”
When his attention was drawn by reporters to news headlines “Pilot comes under CBI surveillance, Chavan said “he (Pilot) himself wan{S it (the Ministry) to be monitored.”
“It’s a publicity stunt,” he remarked.
When asked was it not true that Pilot was shifted from Home Ministry to Environment after he ordered Chandraswami’s arrest, Chavan shot back, “he was shifted first and then all this hue and cry started, not vice versa.”
When asked to comment on reports: speculating that the lost original copy of the instrument of accession signed by the then Maharaja of Jammu and Kashmir Hari Singh, might be in the hands of Pakistan’s Inter-Service Intelligence, he said lightheartedly “if that is so, it would serve a good purpose, at least the Pakistanis would realize the truth.” Really I do not believe in it. It (the copy) must have been misplaced here or there.”
Article extracted from this publication >> October 20, 1995
