Iraq war kills one more…politically (IIPM News Article)

Natwar must resign; or prepare for a humiliating exit sooner than…

It’s finally curtains for the former External Affairs Minister Natwar Singh. After being indicted by the Justice R. S. Pathak commission, the Congress stalwart seems to have hit a dead end. He was hoping for a clean chit from Justice Pathak who was asked by the government to authenticate findings of United Nation’s Paul Volcker commission (Volcker had named Natwar, his son Jagat and the Congress party as being non contractual beneficiaries of multi-national oil for food scam in Iraq). Natwar’s hopes were dashed as Justice Pathak, in his 110-page report, indicted him for misusing his position as Minister for External Affairs to help Jagat’s friend Andaleeb Sehgal in landing oil contracts from Iraq during Saddam Hussain’s regime. The report, though, gave a clean chit to the Congress, which too had been named by the Volcker Commission. The opposition is already baying for his blood. Argues BJP General Secretary Arun Jaitley, “Like Bofors inquiry, the government should follow the money trail in Oil for Food scam by ordering a CBI inquiry or a Joint Parliametary Committee (JPC). We are not satisfied with Pathak commission’s report.” The Pathak Commission, however, was unable to trace the money trail, giving Natwar Singh a legal leeway. Such loopholes notwithstanding, sensing the opposition’s mood, the Congress has already distanced itself from Natwar, especially with his more recent belligerent attitude of moving a privilege motion in Rajya Sabha against the Prime Minister. For Natwar Singh, the wisdom clearly lies in leaving the party, before he is humiliatingly thrown out. Of course, his talks with opposition parties will ensure his future political progress, and not necessarily within the Congress. Natwar needn’t worry; such controversies India has seen a dime a dozen, and with the memory that illiterate masses are blessed with, he could as well nurture ambitions of being the PM one day!

 For complete IIPM Editorial Article, please click here…Source: IIPM Publication, Editor: Arindam Chaudhuri