Govt, CPM must clarify on Mitra's comments about Manmohan

New Delhi, Feb 5 (UNI) The BJP today expressed surprise over revelations made by former Economic Advisor to the Government of India Ashok Mitra in his book "A Prattler's Tale", saying the comment had ''eroded the integrity'' of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

The party asserted that it never doubted the integrity of Dr Singh, whether as former Finance Minister and now as Prime Minister, but Mr Mitra's comment without naming Dr Singh, that the Finance Minister in the Narasimha Rao government was appointed at the behest of Washington D.C. was serious in its nature as it was made by a person who had held a senior post in the Government and had access to confidential information.

Talking to newspersons, former Finance and External Affairs Minister Yashwant Sinha said even though Mr Mitra had not name anybody but everybody knew that Dr Singh had been the Finance Minister. ''This is for the first time that such an allegation has been made about the appointment of the country's former Finance Minister who is now Prime Minister.'' Mr Sinha referred to the quotes contained in the book,.. ''the secret talks between Indian representatives and those speaking on behalf of the Washington Consensus began as soon as the results of the Lok Sabha polls were out. On behalf of the Indian authorities it was immediately made known that the conditions suggested by Washington DC, would be accepted, either at once, or in phases. But at the Washington DC, end, they wanted to be doubly sure.

''In many countries of South and East Asia and Latin America--in countries where the national governments did not dare to go against the wishes of the US administration--an unwritten convention was followed: the IMF and the World Bank would nominate the Finance Minister of the country after consultation with the US authorities; they would back someone they could rely on. India was down-and-out in the judgement of its ruling politicians, and its government must surrender all the way to the United States and the two international financial institutions.'' Mr Sinha said Mr Mitra further wrote that'' the first person whose name was proposed by Washington, DC, thought things over and declined the invitation to be the Finance Minister. the second name on the list was sounded by Narasimha Rao, and he readily agreed. He took the oath together with the other ministers and began to visit the Finance Ministry even before the formal distribution of portfolios among Ministers was announced. In the course of the next few days, a series of decisions in conformity of the conditions agreed upon were announced. This ignominious surrender was given the grand name of structural economic reforms.'' Mr Sinha who is also Vice-President of the BJP, said he had asked Mr Mitra to divulge the basis of his information and who was the first person who was offered the post but he had declined.

''It is the question of the country's sovereignty and it is our appeal that Mr Mitra and Dr Manmohan Singh himself clarify on the issue. At the same time, since Mr Mitra was a CPM cadre and had represented the party in the Rajya Sabha till 1999, it was the duty of the CPM, now ally of the UPA, to clarify its stand on the issue,'' Mr Sinha said.

UNI