Natwar being made 'scapegoat', Jaswant's allegations true: Fernandes

Varanasi, Aug 5 (UNI) Former defence minister and NDA convenor George Fernandes today claimed that former external affairs minister Natwar Singh was being made a 'scapegoat' by Congress on the Volker issue.

Interacting with Newspersons here, Mr Fernandes asserted there was truth in former finance minister Jaswant Singh's allegation of a US mole in the Prime Minister's Office, but the BJP leader had climbed down from his stand owing to pressure by those, who did not want the name of the spy to be made public.

''Natwar Singh is being made 'scapegoat' by Congress on the Iraq oil-for-food-programme issue, especially after the Justice Pathak Committee report in the matter has been leaked to the media,'' he maintained.

Coming out in support of embattled BJP leader Jaswant Singh, Mr Fernandes said his allegations about the US mole in the PMO during the P V Narsimha Rao regime was true.

''I have known Jaswantji over the years and his credentials cannot be doubted.'' He further said the climbdown by Mr Singh over the issue was caused due to pressure from those, who did not want the name of the US mole be made public.

Mr Fernandes, denying that Mr Singh had been isolated within the BJP following the controversy said not only the BJP but also the NDA was with the former foreign minister. ''He is not isolated but we all are with him.'' The socialist leader, though, lamented the crucial issue of national security in the wake of 7/11 Mumbai blasts was pushed into oblivion owing to the Natwar Singh and Jaswant Singh episodes dominating proceedings in Parliament.

''Both the issues have eaten up the more burning issue of national security, which should have been made a public movement,'' he maintained.

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