NEW DELHI: Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha L.K. Advani on Sunday demanded that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh "break his silence" on the `War Room Leak' in the Naval Headquarters and the Scorpene submarine deal.

At a function organised here on the 31st anniversary of the Emergency, he alleged that the scams were linked as the same person masterminded both. Also, the stand taken by the National Democratic Alliance on the issue had been vindicated.

Referring to the raids conducted by the Central Bureau of Investigation on Friday last, he said contrary to the Government's position that the two cases were unrelated, the investigating agency had confirmed that "the `War Room Leak' was part of a much larger conspiracy impinging on vital aspects of India's national security."

"Reveal identity"

Posing questions on the two scams, particularly pertaining to the identity of the foreigners involved in the `War Room Leak,' as alleged by the Navy, and the delay in taking action against the accused, Mr. Advani said: "Isn't this delay a part of the cover-up operation? Couldn't the delay have helped the accused to tamper with the evidence?" He sought the identity of the political patrons of the twin scams.

Mr. Advani said the mentality of the Congress, which imposed the Emergency to "protect their leader," had not changed since 1975. The mentality, "when it comes to the issue of corruption, bears ominous resemblance." He cited the food-for-oil scam, in which the former External Affairs Minister, Natwar Singh, had complained of being made a scapegoat, and Bofors, in which the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance Government "enslaved" the CBI and subverted other institutions of governance to gift "Italian fugitive" Ottavio Quattrocchi "not only freedom but also Rs. 20 crore of impounded money."

"Sacrifice drama"

Further, he accused the UPA of undermining constitutional and parliamentary institutions. Making a detailed reference to the office-of-profit controversy, he said the Congress-led Government abruptly curtailed Parliament's budget session to introduce an ordinance to save its president from disqualification.

"It is only when the Congress leadership realised the high risk involved in doing so that it quickly changed its strategy and enacted the `sacrifice drama' yet again."

The decision to adjourn Parliament sine die without consulting the presiding officers of the two Houses demonstrated that the Congress "is even today willing to go to any length to protect the dynasty."

Be vigilant

Stating that the Congress leadership and the anti-democratic forces were far weaker today than they were in 1975, Mr. Advani urged party workers to remain vigilant and renew "our commitment never again to let an authoritarian ruler to extinguish the sacred flame of democracy in India."

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