Former Director of the Central Bureau of Investigation K. Vijayarama Rao on Tuesday categorically stated that there was nary a shred of evidence that pointed to the former Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao being involved in the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha bribery case.
Adding to this line, Mr. Rao who investigated the case in which some Members of Parliament were bribed by unknown persons, said those who took the money were ‘foolish enough to deposit the money which they got from a person who hailed from Andhra Pradesh.’ he said, reiterating that P.V. Narasimha Rao was not involved in it at all.
To a question about the late PM not having done anything to prevent the demolition of Babri Masjid, he said that was not true too. “A young Bharatiya Janata Party Government in Uttar Pradesh then did not react in time despite reports suggesting the possibility of such an event happening. At a meeting organised to mark the 25{+t}{+h}anniversary of P.V. Narasimha Rao becoming PM, he was participating in a discussion together with Sanjaya Baru, Media Advisor to former PM and N.V. Subhash, a leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party and grandson of Narasimha Rao. The session was organised by Hyd Park and moderated by Sriram Karri, a columnist and novelist.
Mr. Sanjaya Baru said that much of what happened in the year 1991, around the time of liberalisation and globalisation programme that was embarked upon by Narasimha Rao, would figure in his book titled ‘1991 – The year that changed India’ to be released next month. He reflected on his association with the man who is considered father figure of the liberation, privatisation and globalisation programme that catapulted India into the future and showcased the country to the world.
Mr. Baru said contrary to popular belief, Narasimha Rao was very strong on his own and stated that the appointment of Manmohan Singh as Finance Minister was his decision that he conveyed to Congress president Sonia Gandhi. Mr. Subhash recalled that as Narasimha Rao’s grandson, he had spent months and years with him, helping him out with secretarial duties and knew how concerned he was at the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi. He recalled how he had dismissed a line from someone about him becoming PM. “The entire Nehru-Gandhi clan was actually afraid of Narasimha Rao and did not want any of his memories to remain in New Delhi. That is why they ensured that no memorial came up for him in the national capital,” he said.
