The Rediff Interview/Arjun Singh

'Rao tried to wind up Rajiv assassination probe'

Senior Congress leader and former Union minister Arjun Singh is regaining his hold in mainstream Congress politics.

Building bridges with Congress president Sitaram Kesri, he had quickly merged his breakaway Indian National Congress -- which was floated following his differences with former prime minister P V Narasimha Rao -- with the parent body.

To consolidate his position and to give proof of his loyalty to Kesri, Arjun Singh had lashed out against the former's detractors.

Despite this strident stand, sources say that he is now much quieter than the pre-INC days. His defeat in the last general election and his political wilderness appear to have left a deep scar on him.

Maintaining a low profile, Arjun Singh now rations his words and apparently does not believe in talking out of turn.

In this exclusive interview with Tara Shankar Sahay, the man once considered prime minister-in-waiting expresses his views on the Jain Commission report and problems plaguing the Congress. Excerpts:

What are your views on the Jain Commission report?

The Commission's interim report has been submitted to the government. Since the report has not been made public, I do not know its contents. Therefore, I cannot comment on it.

A few days ago, there was a talk in political circles that if the Congress pressurised the government to table the Jain Commission report in Parliament, the Centre would insist on doing the same with regard to the Bofors scam report. What is the mystery?

There is no mystery. I cannot see any link between the two issues. As far as I am concerned, let them place the Bofors report, whatever its contents.

Is it true that Congressmen are unhappy with the progress of the Rajiv Gandhi assassination probe?

Well, you cannot express satisfaction or dissatisfaction unless you know the findings. One thing, however, is obvious. An attempt had been made under the previous (Narasimha Rao) government to scuttle the investigation. This almost tantamounts to a cover-up. It was one of the reasons why I resigned from the Narasimha Rao government.

I had requested Narasimha Raoji to ensure that the cover-up did not take place. But my request went unheeded and so I quit the government.

So you were convinced that the Narasimha Rao government was trying to cover-up the probe in Rajiv Gandhi's assassination?

Obviously. Moves were made to wind up the Jain Commission itself. What greater proof do you need regarding the cover-up?

Did these ''cover-up'' attempts have an adverse effect on your party?

My views are very clear on this matter.

There is no doubt that the party suffered on the issue. The party's image took a nosedive because of this.

Rajivji was the former prime minister and the people evidently did not forgive any shortcomings in the assassination probe. Also, do not forget that he was assassinated in the midst of elections and naturally the people would shy away from voting for a party which was trying to cover-up the probe.

The Rao government tried to scuttle the investigation and he is still there in the Congress party. Don't you think this will affect your party's electoral prospects?

I don't think we should take the matter that far, especially in the light of Sitaram Kesriji's action in demanding the tabling of the Jain Commission report.

As your party is devoid of vote-generating issues and welfare programmes, don't you think its electoral prospects are rather dim?

No, under the present leadership, attempts are being made to put the party back on the rails. The last general election had a very debilitating effect on the party. But efforts are now underway to restore the people's confidence. I am hopeful of positive results.

Will Kesri go in for the polls after pulling the rug from under the Gujral government?

I don't think it is correct on anybody's part to speculate on such vital issues. It is uncalled for.

What do you think about the feud between your party president and vice-president?

No, I don't think that there is any feud between them.

Are they together, then?

Yes, they are.

Kesri has warned the UF government not to take the Congress support for granted.

The party has passed an eloquent resolution in this regard recently. I have nothing more to add.

How will the BJP's recent statement that a temple would be built at Ayodhya affect your party's chances?

If you read carefully what the BJP has been saying, you will see that the mandir is not its main issue. They are merely testing the ground to see if the issue has substantial takers.

India has had a surfeit of such religious issues which tend to damage the secular fabric. Today there is little interest in political controversies, and if the BJP thinks that it can capitalise on the mandir issue, let it go ahead and be rebuffed by the people. The BJP took the mandir issue from the law courts and put it on the streets. It burnt its fingers in the bargain.

The BJP thought it would fan communal feelings among the Hindus on the mandir issue but look what happened. After the Babri Masjid demolition, the BJP lost four states where it was in power.

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