The Hindu : Fernandes for probe to unmask people behind sting operation

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Feb 05, 2004

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National

Fernandes for probe to unmask people behind sting operation

By Sandeep Dikshit

NEW DELHI, FEB. 4. The Defence Minister, George Fernandes, today called for another probe into the Tehelka episode to unmask the people, including politicians, who had backed the sting operation aimed against politicians, middlemen and Army officers.

"They are irresponsible rogues and I pity them. I had maintained from the beginning that they were unable to frame me. What is there to feel vindicated when I was not involved anywhere,'' said an angry Mr. Fernandes, when asked whether he felt vindicated following the `clean chit' given by the Tehelka commission report.

Pressed further, the Minister said there were no allegations against him but three unscrupulous journalists had embarked on a mission to malign him and some politicians ranged against him supported them. "I pity them. The people who planned and supported the sting operation were also the ones who went around with coffins to hold me responsible for irregularities in that deal. Elections are round the corner and they are bound to do so again. But I am not bothered because I was not involved."

Asked whether the Opposition MPs (barring the Samajwadi Party) would call off his boycott in Parliament, Mr. Fernandes said it was up to them to decide.

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