Facts about Bofors case: Shy Rao, shameless Singh ! & Public Views !

S Gurumurthy
First Published : 05 May 2009 01:42:00 AM IST
The Quattrocchi case is an embarrassment for the Government of India... The court says we do not have a strong case”. It is not Antonia Maino (aka Sonia) Gandhi defending her Italian friend. It is Prime Minister Manmohan Singh as if she had appointed him as the advocate to plead for Q. “It’s not a good reflection on the Indian legal system,” says the PM moved by compassion for Q, “that we harass people while the world says we have no case.” Singh, who was with the South Commission on a comfortable salary and perks when the Bofors scam rocked the country, seems totally unaware of the facts of the Bofors scam. Here is a short trailer of the scam.

The Bofors scam — pay-off for India’s gun purchase deal with Sweden — broke out in 1987. A third of the Indians living today were not yet born then; and a fourth of the Indians living then are no more alive today. So some history needs to be recalled here. First, the Bofors payoff was exposed by the media and the Rajiv government went all out to suppress the exposure. Including the payoff of $36.5 million to Q, the Bofors deal contemplated three streams of payoff totalling $250 million. Persistent investigations by the media and the CBI brought out the involvement of Q in the gun deal.

The closeness of Q and his wife Maria to Sonia family was always well known.

The Sonia and Maria families spent their weekends and annual holidays together.

They left one’s children in the custody of the other when going out of station. So intense was their relationship. The media found that some $7.3 million from Bofors AB had found its way into Q’s secret bank accounts. Facts began to tumble out testifying that it was fee to Q for swinging the $1.2 billion gun deal for the Swedish gun maker.

Here is how Q got the deal for Bofors.

The Rajiv Gandhi government could not decide for a long time what gun to buy — the British, Austrian or Swedish. The two brokers engaged by Bofors could not expedite the deal. Suddenly, in the second half of 1985, AE Services (AES), a shell company, entered the deal with this offer to Bofors: “Look. If we get you the deal by March 31, 1986, give us a fee of three per cent. If not, don’t pay.” Bofors accepted the offer and signed up with the AES shell on October 15, 1985. Unless Bofors knew that the man behind AES had had the clout to get it done from the Rajiv government, it would never have signed with a shell company.

And AES shell did get the Rajiv government to sign the contract with Bofors on March 22, 1986 — seven days ahead of the target date of March 31, 1986. Within six months, AES got the first tranche of its fee of $7.3 million. Proof emerged slowly that this money finally went to Q, showing he was the man behind the shell.

■ Bofors remitted on September 3, 1986, $7.3 million into AES account number 18051-53 in Nordfinanz Bank, Zurich.

This equalled 20 per cent of the three per cent bribe of $36.5 millions due to AES.

■ Two weeks later (on September 16, 1986) AES delivered $7 million into account number 254.561.60W in the same bank in the name of Colbar Investments — a company controlled by Q and Maria.

■ In April 1987, the Swedish Radio broke the news of bribes in Bofors deal with India. Later, in June 1988, the media published authoritative documents seized by the Swedish police which established the payoff. By now, Bofors scam had become a huge national issue.

■ Forthwith Q and Maria hurriedly shifted their loot, grown with interest, from Geneva to Channel Islands, to New York to Austria. First, on July 25, 1988 $7.9 million moved from Colbar to account number 488.320.60X of Wetelsen Overseas SA, in UBS, Geneva. Next, on May 21, 1990, $9.2 million moved from Wetelson to account number 123983 of IIDCL, Ansbacher, St Peter Port, Guernsey (Channel Islands). Later, on June 5, 1990, $2.4 million channelled into code-named account ‘Robusta’ in Banque Karfinco SA from Swiss Bank Corp, New York. Afterwards, on June 12, 1990, $5.3 million was transferred to code-named accounts ‘Arabica’, ‘Robusta’ and ‘Luxor’ in Austria from Swiss Bank accounts in Geneva.

■ Within six days of the Swiss government giving these details to India in 1993, Q slipped out of India and turned a fugitive, thanks to the Narasimha Rao government helping him to run away.

■ Later, in June 2003, Interpol found that Q and Maria had two accounts, bearing numbers 5A5151516L and 5A5151516M in the London branch of the Swiss bank BSI AG with Euros three million and $1 million.

They were frozen on CBI’s request.

British courts later repeatedly turned down Quattrocchi’s several appeals to de-freeze the accounts.

■ But, on December 22, 2005, the Congressled UPA government U-turned. H R Bharadwaj, the law minister, got the additional solicitor general of India, B Dutta, to go to London to do the dirty job of releasing the amounts.

Can anyone say now that Q is innocent and he just received some charity of $7.3 million from Bofors? Yet the Sonia-led government allowed Q to smuggle the bribe from the frozen accounts. All that the CBI asks of Q is this: Come to India and answer these questions — why Bofors paid him the money; did it relate to the gun deal; what is his relation with Sonia family, AE Services, Colbar Investments and the coded and numbered bank accounts through which the payoff has finally reached him.

Why not Sonia Gandhi just ask him to appear before the court and prove his innocence? Why does she, on the contrary, abet his refusal to present himself before courts in India? It is clear that she will not ask him. Why? Here is the answer: unless Sonia protects Q here, he will not protect her outside. The stakes seem to be too high.

QED: Manmohan Singh today does what Sonia wants like Narasimha Rao did then what she wanted. Yet, there is a difference between how the two obliged her. Rao felt shy to do what she wanted. So he did it stealthily. Singh does what she wants openly and shamelessly. Even, a Sonia family retainer like H R Bharadwaj feels shy to own up the shameless withdrawal of the Red Corner Notice on Q; but the PM owns it proudly. Singh is shameless about what Rao used to feel shy. Why? Unlike Rao, Singh is not an elected prime minister but a nominated one; he is not chosen by democratic process, but selected by the dynasty; he is not backed by the people, but backed by the family. So the shift from shyness to shamelessness, from Rao to Singh

comment@gurumurthy.net

About the author:

S Gurumurthy is a well-known commentator on political and economic issues

Public Views :

Indian Hindu said down below "MMS is the retainer of the private limited family company under the name INC run by mother, son and daughter. What else to expect from MMS. Winston Churchill rightly said that the Indians do not deserve freedom." I am surprised at his inference. Clearly, Churchill was a silly guy to make that statement. What is MMS's servitute good to do with Indians not deserving freedom. The death blow for Indian democracy was given by MK Gandhi when he did not respect people mandate and asked Patel to step down for the sake of Nehru. Though we call India a democracy, it is no where close to democracy - for the people?? of the people?? by the people??? Congress has left the majority poor and illeterate to hijack the elections.
By Sathish
5/6/2009 8:27:00 PM

I wonder why people call MMS a good man. I don't see any good quality in him.
By Sathish
5/6/2009 8:20:00 PM

We christian bas**tards are anti Hindu, anti Indian and are ordered to condemn patriotic Indian's articles by our church and our virgin born fake Jesus christ.
By Tonyt
5/6/2009 8:15:00 PM

Looks like the christian pedophile priests are in to commenting unsing hijada names like debator or even Hindu names. These christian fu**ckers lick the cunt of Sonia and write all nonsense instead of arguing. These unfortunate christian slaves are a pain in the world’s ass. These assholes are brainwashed, in CIA funded Sunday schools to learn English and study a fake religion called Christianity created by a criminal in the fourth centurty. These love oozing animals have eliminated races and cultures with pure genocide and slavery. These christian communal pigs invade all forum like this with abusive comments on commentators, which their genetic nature. As these christian are the rape products of Europeans. These christian bastard who use bombs and explosives in NE have no shame in proclaiming love for humans. These sodomy christians say they are not communals but give the admissions to the state funded colleges only if the hindus convert.
By The debater
5/6/2009 8:07:00 PM

Sonia put her dog Manmohan on the orders of CIA. Rao employed the dog Manmohan on the orders of CIA. For a dog of Sonia eating her shit is very pleasant experience. Unfortunately this Sonia shit eating dog Manmohan is a spy and is detrimental to India. The christian congress party is shameless and consists of all US spies. The next generation of this Italian pro is the gang rapist Rahul Gandhi who will do proud any Delhi rapist. When India is full of Jaichand like Vajpayee who changed the law to allow this Italian pro to stand for election, then what is so great about withdrawing a red corner notice.
By v Subramanian
5/6/2009 7:54:00 PM

MMS is the retainer of the private limited family company under the name INC run by mother, son and daughter. What else to expect from MMS. Winston Churchill rightly said that the Indians do not deserve freedom. After 62 years, the servility of Indians to a family which stole the name of Gandhi through an affidavit with the advice and connivance of the Great Mahatma is bafling. Churchill was prophetic indeed.
By Indian Hindu
5/6/2009 7:33:00 PM

Whenever some comments are made about the dynasty, petticoatwalas immediately pounce upon the person.
By v subramanian
5/6/2009 6:29:00 PM

Looks like the Chaddiwalas have unleashed an entire army of brainwashed, shakha-bred,venom-spitting communal pigs on this forum. the article is about Bofors scam and how conveniently these low-life scums have turned it into a minority-bashing theatre, one can just see here. Chaddiwalas have mastered the art of taking literally any topic on earth and then turn into a communal diatribe. Well trained!
By The debater
5/6/2009 5:45:00 PM

On the one hand, Obama gives millions of dollars as rehabilitation package and on the otherexpresses concern for the Americans suffering because of recession. If he is short of money, why cannot he cancel and stop all allocations made to foreign countries by his predecessors as well as by him for conversions throughout the world and redirect the amount to poor Americans instead of feeding the already overfed NGOs and the religious brokers in the country. Protecting Americans is a serious matter than promoting religious hatred and engineering religious defections and redefections in addition to allowing the religious brokers to amss more fixed and current assets from out of the funds allotted which Obama andhis audience should understand. Are there some senators with some common sense to listen to my suggestion if they are really concerned for American welfare.
By subramanian
5/6/2009 3:53:00 PM

Continued..... Because of the psuedo secularist in India, these things are happening. No wonder if Hindusism (A way of Life) vanishes in the years to come! od save us!!
By giri
5/6/2009 11:32:00 AM

Dr. Singh's shamelessness was evident when he apologised to Sikhs for what happened in 1984 after Indira Gandhi's assassination even though he was in no way connected to the gory incidents. His shamelessness was evident when he did not resign when his 'sub contractors' arranged to purchase confidence votes and the wads of currency notes were displayed in Lok Sabha during the confidence vote on nuclear deal, and now his endorsement of the letting of 'Q ' because of the latters proximity to Sonia. One can wake up a sleeping man and not who pretends to be sleeping . He has overtaken Zail Singh, in subservience. No wonder, after he is ousted from power, he might be nominated for the highest civilian award of Italy, whtever it may be worth for this ' exemplary display of loyalty ' to his Italian boss .
By Karan
5/6/2009 11:28:00 AM

Mr. Vikarm Phadke, what else do you expect from a person who belongs to a religion that does not respect other religions? The very fact that they indulge in conversion shows a. They are insecure about their own religion b. They do not respect other religions at all. To support these idiots, we have many political leaders who are driving this country to hell!. If some one decides to convert on his/her own, we have no objection. Every one has one's own choice! What amazes me is they say they are converting people for their betterment! India had stalwarts like Gandhi, Baba Amte, Vinobha Bhave etc, who never bothered to know about the religion of people to serve them!. It's unfortunate that our culture is fast vanishing! In our country if the income of a temple exceeds a particular figure it gets acquired by government & thoe priests get paid peanuts! The same is not applicable for a Mosque or a chruch. Most of these monies are being used for conversion. Because of the psuedo secula
By giri
5/6/2009 11:20:00 AM

This is such a nice article. Very happy to read it. I hope these voters who vote for Rs 500 and elect such boneless creatures to power realise it atleast once in their life time. They are too much in dark that they cannot be brought out. Mr.Gurumurthy writes in Tuklak also. But i wonder how many read it in states like Tamil Nadu even if it is a Tamil magazine. Most of the population are behind the 1Re Kumkumam run by Kolaingnar family and their TV channels. When will they change? Praying sincerely that I dont end up seeing Congressmen faces atlest for next 5 yrs on TV as ministers at the centre. God save our country!!
By Raj
5/6/2009 10:07:00 AM

It is the last resort of a frustrated person to use foul language, when one does not have any logic, reasoning or conviction of truth. Thats what Mr. Tony has done. May be he is worried that the dirty things of Sonia Antonio Maino, Quattrocchi, and their friends are coming out again and again. May be he wants to use foul language because he he sympathises with the aforementioned "most dignified" people because he is their co-religionist. Sorry for him and for all people who think that there is only One God, One Prophet, One Holy Book, only One Way to God. These are the people who have created the ruckus since nearly so many centuries, starting from the first, continuing vigorously from the fifth and getting more danger afterwards. I wish that our Mother Earth and its inhabitants (humans and all others included, equally) survive these zealots.
By vikram phadke
5/6/2009 8:48:00 AM

BJP coolie Gyrumurthy, get a life. Maybe a Hindu Thief.
By Tonyt
5/6/2009 7:29:00 AM

Except for Dr. Ajay, every thinking Indian knows that THERE is ONLY ONE POWER CENTRE in Congress and that is the FIRST family of Congress. All others are PROXY ACTORS, who can NOT even speak or act independently, as that is the FIRST CONDITION to JOIN Congress party! Well done GuruMurthy - but as usual it is of no USE - like peacock DANCING in Forest - foolish Indians will NEVER realize!
By Ike
5/6/2009 7:03:00 AM

I am glad some readers took me on my comments... Exposes such as this must be geared to exact a price, political, financial, criminal or all of the above. Bad mouthing superlatives tends to reflect back. And no amount of name calling will 'shame' politicians into ethical behavior. Moreover, 'Q' is a politically useless target. The Law Minister HR Bhardwaj is responsible for calling off the red alert by direction to CBI. This article should have called for his head. Calling PM or SG shameless would not cause a correction. The fight should be to force a more independent hand for the (a) investigative agencies, (ii) judiciary and (iii) bureucracies so that they are more fearful of wrong doing than of retribution from politicians. Meanwhile, reasonable commission for fair business transactions should be legal. The outcome of declaring a 3% commission illegal (an impractical self righeous legalese in yours truly's opinion) is wasting the other 97% of the Bofor's $1.2 billion dea
By Dr. Ajay
5/6/2009 4:01:00 AM

Congress treat Terrorists as their " SON-in-LAWS". It is " CONGRESS " who put Indian Muslims into " Beggar " position by declaring favouritsm for " VOTE BANK " & involved in Hindu-Muslim roits for 5 decades. This policy was " Divide & Rule " learned from British. 15th Aug-1947, the day India got Independent Muslims leaders never came out & begged for the Comunity & Discriminate Hindus, Sikhs etc. Muslim Community from Gujarat or Muslim Leaders from country not taking the issue of " Gujarat Roits " in this election, but " CONGRESS " dancing non-stop like " Mujrawalis " on same tune & giving clean chits to all favoured Cirminals from CBI & Courts before the Election is over.
By Dinesh
5/6/2009 3:50:00 AM

Talibaba says, give me $7 million and Talibaba will bring Quattrochchi to India. Talibaba knows how. We Talibabas, we don't fear anybody or any situation. We fanatically follow our Talibaba Holy Book. Ya ilaha il Baba, Tali rasool Baba!
By Talibaba
5/6/2009 2:40:00 AM

What have you to say about two countries' legal systems which both refused to extradite 'Q' to India? Moreover, BJP has no reason to complain because one country did so when they were in power. It would be sheer stupidity to pursue a matter that has not been conclusively proven so far. To politicize such issues at election time is nothing short of opportunism. Let better sense prevail!
By Giju
5/6/2009 12:35:00 AM

Drrrrrrr Singhhh got doctor degreee in western slavery, so he is doing his job perfectly. Its bad fortune to the nation of a billion plus people that we are ruled by such scoundrals. Its our fualt, we talk much but act less. We must act and defeat such forces. We must become leaders and rulers, we have everything in us.
By Bharat
5/5/2009 11:25:00 PM

People who call Advani Racist, tell me why so called secular partys divide people on name of CAST? Pleple who accept corrupt politicans are biggest reason for pathetic condtion of our country.
By Puudo
5/5/2009 10:26:00 PM

As long as guys like Shankar Basavanna Mudhol exist this country is bound to have many more such scams where billions and trillions will get stashed away. If he is ignorant of the facts then let him not show it open forum. In the Reliance case he was acting on the instructions of the then Indian Express owner and when a truce was reached between Mr.Ramnath Goenka and Dhirubhai , his articles were stopped... but the basic facts as brought out by Mr.Gurumurthy remained and still remain. It is not that the BJP Government did not try in bringing the culprits to the book but when you have the agents and loyalists to the CONgress at every layer of the Government machinery how you can expect something to happen in a span of 5 years? The whole world knows about the truth in the so called scams like Jain Hawala or Coffin purchase etc., they were the handiworks of the shameless CONgress goons just to spread malaise against the BJP & NDA. Again this whole Bofors resurfaced not because of Mr. Guru
By Katahavarayan Marma Yogi
5/5/2009 9:00:00 PM

Late Swarn Singh, Foreign Minister of india had once said that, "The only honest politician is the one who has no means of being corrupt, meaning those who do not have access to making easy money are the only once who are 'not corrupt'. We are calling Rajiv and Sonia corrupt because one of their son-of-B minister VP Singh betrayed them for his ulterior motives. Anyways I would prefer 'corrupt' but efficient PMs like Narsimha Rao and ManMohan Singh to racists Advani and the kinds. The writer of this article 'Shy Rao, Shameless Singh' is a paid agent of Jan Sangh, I mean BJP.
By Long Live Man Mohan Singh and N. Rao.
5/5/2009 8:20:00 PM

Gurumurthy's argument is that whether there is a case against Q or not. Yes there is. Amount involved and the years this case has been dragging all another question.
By Krishna Menon
5/5/2009 7:41:00 PM

Congress has nurtured a lot of fiends in their long of rule of 50 years to share the corrupt money. Every one knows it is not so easy to fight the corrupt system. The issue of black money was raised by LK Advani a year ago and by a CPI MP in parliament, much before. The question is why Congress government did not send request for the details to Swiss and Germany? In a democracy, the right time to bring the any wrong doings of government to people’s court is election time and people are judges.
By Ramesh
5/5/2009 6:21:00 PM

Why do politicians want their kith, kin and hangerson in Parliament, because in Parliament numbers matter. Why do they want to be MPs ,as MPs are beyond the pale of the law of the land, no court will touch them. Politics is the first resort for money making. Ideals and loyalty to nation are all bakwas. No MP wants to run a free kitchen, if kitchen is run free it is with ulterior motive. With all natural resources and human resources, the number of have nots have increased. Wealth and power is concentrated in the hands of politicians and their friends who are in all fields.
By vasudev
5/5/2009 6:17:00 PM

Gurumurthy tried blackmailing the Ambanis. It did not work. His long tirades against their various scams involing payment of less Customs Duty on imported plant & equipment fell flat. Bofors is another long running saga. What was his favourite BJP Govt doing when Quattrochhi was still in Malaysia?. Why did the then BJP Govt not persue his extradition. What about his current Black Money in Swiss banks crusade? Where was he sitting with his ideas all this while. Was he only waiting for Election Time? He is nothing but a cheap gadfly. Should be put down with a Fly swatter. Why does he not investigate the Jain Hawala scam again? Is it because LK Advani was one of those involvedin that scam? What about the Coffin Purchase scandal during BJP rule. The list on this side is also endless. Loudmouths like Gurumurthy are only worthy of contempt.
By Shankar Basavanna Mudhol
5/5/2009 4:53:00 PM

Sonia and her brood are the biggest hurdles to the development of this nation. The SRP( Sonia, Rahul, Priyanka) factor is sucking the country dry. Q is a family friend of the Maino's. Did anyone expect some other verdict? I didn't. Of course Q is innocent. It is we Indians who are the real culprits because we are letting this illiterate foreign woman run our country. We have only ourselves to blame.
By Akki
5/5/2009 4:49:00 PM

If Sonia is really patriotic to India and her children also patriotic to india and indian consitution, why they are not advising Mr. Q to come to india and face the judiciary? Because Sonia and her children's patriotism is nothing but bullshit. They are faithful to vatican and Govt of Italy not to India. India is a place for them to enjoy the govt benefit like house, security, car etc etc and when the true responsibility of being indian comes, they show their true colors. Shamelss Manmohan singh also supports them blindly because they gave him an opportunity to occupy the PM post. But Manmohan forgot onething, they didnt give him the chair to simply enjoy but to do all sort of dirty job for sonia and their gang. Our economist has become house servant now. What a pity? Advani shouldnt try for PM chair because the post has lost its value and image due to all dirty work done by Manmohan and his gang for Sonia and her family.
By sriram
5/5/2009 4:34:00 PM

Some one said it is a small amount, happened long time, so forget it. The question is not whether they are small amount or happened long time back or quality of Product. The question is WHO swindled money? The money is swindled by our own LEADER who supposed to give a corruption free government. We have given our nation's key to Prime Minister, to protect our treasure, not to LOOT. Our concern is, if people do not hesitate loot money in defense deals, would they hesitate loot money in social schemes, take bribes favouring deals in India.
By Suresh
5/5/2009 4:07:00 PM

"unless Sonia protects Q here, he will not protect her outside. The stakes seem to be too high". It's a perfect mafia deal. So does congress morph into nothing less than a new age mafia group.
By Anil
5/5/2009 3:39:00 PM

Once again salute you Guru Sir. Your tireless Crusade against this corrupt dynasty and its faithfull and shameless servants is amazing to say the least. But, what is the use? There are still some "creatures" who still root for this dynastical loot and howsoever you cry from the roof tops will go in vain as long as the creatures exist ...
By Katahavarayan Marma Yogi
5/5/2009 2:03:00 PM

" Vinasa Kale Vibaretha Buddi" (When the times are not good, the intellect works in the WRONG direction). Dr.Singh is going through bad times. ( His bad time started wihen he agreed to become PM on Sonia's selfish advice) The sooner he realises this, the better it will be for Dr.Singh. It is better for him to quit rather than serve SONIA who is enjoying power without any responsibility. Can any one list the good deeds she has done for the Country?
By K V NATARAJAN
5/5/2009 1:38:00 PM

Congress party is hight of corruption. To divert peoples attention they shout "communalism-communalism".
By Psudo
5/5/2009 12:37:00 PM

Its unfortunate that the leading national newspapes barring the NIE, sings bhajans on Rahul , Sonia instead of probing them! Sonia must prove that she is not guilty..she must come and face the media and give us an explaination..she is a coward who escapes the media scrutiny by !sending the likes of Kapil Sibal and Abhishek Singvi both of whom are lawyers who are good orators & who can confuse the common man about legal rules..
By Vishnu
5/5/2009 10:17:00 AM

Dr Ajay, are you put up in India?? Dr Ajay I think you are not an VET, so assuming you are an good and reputed doctor, let me ask you. In a Single day, how many poor patients get free treatment from you, with medicines and in some cases Pathological tests too? When you can't treat a single Poor, then how Mr Q along with Sonia can rape my poor brothers of their Wealth,..Dr Ajay you mean to say that just because Bofor's issue is 22 years old we should forget it!!! Then you may ask the Nation to even forget Afzal and Kasab too, Is not Sonia protecting her boyfriend MR Q?? If she is so honest, why she is not influencing Mr Q to come to India and face the trail and get the Clean chit from our Judiciary instead of Protecting him and aiding him...................Dr Ajay there cant be Smoke without fire
By Vikas Patel
5/5/2009 9:42:00 AM

Mr Ravi how can facts be baised!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!....Facts Are Facts and these facts are not cooked up by Mr Gurumurtrhy!! CBI probed it, and you can cross verify all these facts,if you think they are Biased....so Mr Ravi when are you going to Unmask your masters???
By Dinesh Parikh
5/5/2009 9:32:00 AM

Dr. ajay's comments are bizzare to say the least. Does it mean that for every good product that the country/govt. purchases (as it is expected to do), underhand commission can be justified and we can say that the person who is taking the commission is doing the country a favor???????????? If quattorchhi was not there, would the defense dept. not have gone in for these guns, presuming that they were good? It is clear that the decision was already taken to go in for bofors, subject to bofors agreeing to pay the proxy quattrochi or his firm commission. Thats how the corruption in the system works.
By khan
5/5/2009 9:04:00 AM

If it is just a commission and can be ignored as suggested by some readers, then why not 'Q' come to India and answer a few questions of CBI and live happily ever after? Why so much protectionism favoring Mr. Q? Why the hell the PM and the first fmily protecting him with so much vigor? What is at stake? Is there anything more it hidden?
By Raj
5/5/2009 8:38:00 AM

Question is not about the 3% commission, but about the Judiciary,and does our PM sand for and who is he serving ? We have learn from mistakes, take every opertunity to beat corrupt politician. Jsut claiming basi is easy, to defend the same is not easy. I ask my friend what is so biased in his article?
By Raghavendra
5/5/2009 8:19:00 AM

After 22 years, one has to stop beating the dead horse shamelessly... Bofors guns were proven to be good. In hindsight, one might even say that Q did a favour there - both in merchandise quality and a mere 3% commission. Yet, this never ending wrangling over the 'Q & Gandhi' factor for $36 million has prevented the Govt. from buying spares for Bofors guns - virtual $1.2 billions scrap. Is this self righteousness worth keeping India without its Howitzers or other defense acquisitions? You cannot see the forest due to the trees!
By Dr. Ajay
5/5/2009 7:31:00 AM

Mr. Gurumurthy, there comes a phase in every intellectual's life when he contemplates the preposterousness of preaching any further. Whats the point of preaching the truth ? Time and fate are not on the side of Hindus.. there is nothing but disillusionment and despair on our side.
By Mithun
5/5/2009 3:04:00 AM

Your article may have some facts, but I am sorry to say that it is totally biased...
By Ravi Sharma
5/5/2009 2:56:00 AM