The Hindu : International / India & World : Hindujas in "military sales" row with BBC

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Monday, Jul 04, 2005

International

International - India & World

Hindujas in "military sales" row with BBC

Special Correspondent

"Vehicles fit for humanitarian purposes"

LONDON: Controversial U.K.-based Indian industrialists, the Hindujas, were on Sunday reported to be trying to prevent the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) from showing a programme accusing them of breaking a Government ban on "military sales" to Sudan because of concerns over its human rights record.

According to The Sunday Times, the accusation was made in a secretly filmed report by undercover BBC journalists posing as "security" and arms "procurement" consultants for an unnamed aid agency in Sudan.

The programme, it said, claimed that an executive of Ashok Leyland, a Hinduja company, agreed to supply 20 military-style vehicles worth $750,000 during a meeting at a central London hotel in May. The "deal" was later "confirmed" by Dheeraj Hinduja, son of G.P. Hinduja, president of the family group.

"Ahead of any broadcast, the BBC has accused the Hindujas of breaking international sanctions that bar British citizens from entering into agreements to ship `military-specification' vehicles to Sudan. ... Any British citizen found breaking the law faces a six-month jail term," the newspaper said.

Wrongdoing denied

It quoted solicitors for the Hindujas as denying any wrongdoing and claiming that the trucks were "only fit for humanitarian purposes." The Hindujas were reported to be planning to take legal action to stop the BBC from broadcasting the programme.

Giving details of the BBC's "sting operation," the newspaper said: "Ashok Leyland was approached in May by three men who sought to buy trucks to assemble in Sudan.

"One of them claimed to be an American priest from New York, another said he was an Irish-based `security consultant,' and the third a Manchester-based `procurement consultant' working for an unnamed aid agency. They met an executive of Ashok Leyland, who agreed to the deal at a meeting in a five-star hotel in Kensington, west London. The men then insisted on speaking to a member of the Hinduja family.

"They were put in contact with Dheeraj Hinduja, son of G.P. Hinduja, president of the family company. He confirmed that he was aware of the humanitarian deal and was happy for it to proceed.

"In mid-June, the Indian arm of the company is understood to have written to the phoney company confirming the proposed deal. The letter stated that the Sudanese trucks would be painted white as they were for humanitarian purposes."

The BBC declined to react, saying it did not comment on programmes, which "may or may not be in the pipeline."

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