Rediff On The NeT: Bhagwat seeks to put army in the dock, says Fernandes


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April 9, 1999

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Bhagwat seeks to put army in the dock, says Fernandes

Defence Minister George Fernandes has said that there was a 'grave design' to put the army in the dock in former naval chief admiral Vishnu Bhagwat's allegations against the army chief and the charge that the defence minister was allowing gun-runners to take weapons to the north-east.

''How can he say that the defence minister is allowing guns to go to the northeast...? He also raised serious allegations against the army chief. I have a deep feeling that he had a design to put our army in the dock'', Fernandes said while repeatedly emphasising that Admiral Bhagwat was the one who supervised the operations in the Andamans last year when the first order of 'no precipitate action' was followed with the order to take action against the gun-runners.

Admitting that he had been 'soft' in taking action against Admiral Bhagwat and court martial might have been more appropriate, Fernandes said, ''I am still unable to come to terms with bhagwat's allegations. Whether that design is related to some people wanting to expose our army, I don't know.''

For the first time, during an interview on Doordarshan last night, the defence minister clarified on the charges made by the dismissed naval chief about the aircraft carrier-- Admiral Gorshkov -- deal and former prime minister H D Deve Gowda's allegations with regard to the T-90 tank proposal.

Denying that he had any links with the LTTE, another charge made by Admiral Bhagwat, Fernandes said he had absolutely no connection with arms dealers crown or Makalu Engineering.

UNI

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