Fernandes' supporters to launch anti-UPA campaign

New Delhi, Oct 16: Supporters of NDA Convenor and former Defence Minister George Fernandes have decided to launch a nationwide campaign from Dehradun on October 29 against the foisting ''of a series of false cases'' including the purchase of Barak missiles for the Navy against their leader by the UPA Government.

Janata Dal (United) General Secretary Shiv Kumar, a Fernandes loyalist, told newspersons today that the Congress had extensively used the issue of so-called coffin purchase scam ''wrongfully to target Mr Fernandes'' in Uttaranchal and Himachal Pradesh state Assembly elections. ''These two states are dominated by former defence personnel and Mr Fernandes was painted as a corrupt person trying to make money even from coffins on the baseless allegations spread by Tehelka news portal and Congress President Sonia Gandhi,'' Mr Kumar added.

''After four years the Congress and UPA government could not come out with any details except to submit before the Court that there was no hanky panky in the coffins purchase and it was all well known that the Congress derailed two judicial commissions as it did not want truth to come out on the allegations,'' he said.

This time they ''were now alleging that Rs two crore kickbacks was paid for purchase of Barak system for the Indian Navy without even specifying who or which company made the payment,'' Mr Kumar said. ''When you are making an allegation against a person like Mr Fernandes, it is your responsibility to tell the nation the entire picture and not employ hit and run tactics,'' he said.

Asked if the J D (U) and BJP leaders would be part of the protest, Mr Kumar avoided a direct answer but reminded that BJP and other leaders had issued a statement that they had no doubts about the integrity of Mr Fernandes.

BJP Spokesman Ravishankar Prasad on his part repeated the party's view expressing confidence in Mr Fernandes' integrity but declined to say if his party would take part in the Dehradun campaign as the issue had not been discussed.

UNI

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