Mr. K. P. Singhdeo’s statement in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday has raised issues which go far beyond the vindication of his personal honour. They touch on the functioning of the government under Mr. Rajiv Gandhi. Mr. Singhdeo, it may be recalled, resigned as a minister of state in January because his name figured in a charge-sheet in an allegedly espionage case. On a surface view, there was nothing abnormal about these developments. One of the intelligence agencies had investigated the activities of one Mr. Rama Swarup; it had filed a case against him on the charge of espionage; the names of two ministers of state, the other being Mr. Chandrakar, had figured in it, along with those of other MPs and leading political figures; and when this fact became known the two ministers duly resigned. But things were not so simple. Indian intelligence agencies are not known either for their efficiency or integrity; on every critical occasion they have fallen on their faces; it is common knowledge that they have manipulated evidence to suit them, or their political masters. But the Rama Swarup case fell in a category of its own.
The charge-sheet contained the names of prominent Indians; though they were not accused of having assisted Mr. Swarup, in his alleged espionage activities, the implication was obvious; or else their names would not have figured in the charge-sheet; the agency had not cared to talk to these individuals before so smearing them; it was so keen to publicize its “great achievement” that it had taken care to provide copies of the charge-sheet to newspapers. This would have been cause enough for concern, if it was all. But this could not be all. We do not possess the necessary evidence to say that the charge-sheet was publicized on the orders of someone important in the government. But we frankly find it inconceivable that the intelligence agency could have acted on its own initiative in this matter, since it involved two ministers. That too is not all. Again, we do not know whether or not the charge-sheet was referred to the Prime Minister. But either way, is would reflect poorly on him. If his attention was not drawn to so serious a matter, which involved two of his ministers, it would show that he is not fully in command. And if he received the charge-sheet, it would be difficult to resist the inference that he failed to do his duty. This duty was to ensure that no one was maligned and made to suffer for crimes he had not committed.
It is possible that as in the case of the well-publicized raids on business houses, this attack on politicians was intended to proclaim the inauguration of a “new age”. In this case the intention could well be that no one would accept an invitation to visit any foreign country or have anything to do with any foreign mission or trade representative. And, of course, if no industrialist is tall enough to command any kind of respect from the present rulers, why should even Mr. Atal Bihari Vajpayee be entitled to any consideration? In both cases, Mr. Rajiv Gandhi cannot avoid responsibility. He is the Prime Minister and neither the Finance ministry nor the Home ministry can go on defaming and harassing Indian citizens without his acquiescence, if not consent and even encouragement. In the case of raids on industrialists, we at least know the “justification” thanks to Mr. V.P. Singh’s innumerable interviews to the media. In the other case, we can only speculate. Someone should publicly explain the “justification” for the attack on so many politicians. Mr. Gandhi is the right person to do so. He recommended to the President that Mr. Singhdeo’s and Mr. Chandrakar’s resignations be accepted. Fellow MPs may accept his explanation and proclaim that he is a clean politician. But that cannot fully rehabilitate him. The government must own its mistake and tender an apology to him as also to others, who have been unjustly maligned. A democracy does not survive in an atmosphere of character assassination.