Cong on defensive,says Rasgotra claim outrageous

The Congress on Friday walked a tightrope on the Bhopal gas tragedy. While party spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi rejected as outrageous and ridiculous the statements of former foreign secretary M K Rasgotra and Gordon Streeb,the then Deputy Chief de Mission at the US Embassy in New Delhi,that former Union Carbide chief Warren Andersons exit from the country happened with the knowledge of the Rajiv Gandhi-led government,other Congress leaders remained tightlipped,preferring to wait for the GoM report on the issue.

There is absolutely no evidence of any kind whatsoever,direct or indirect,to support this completely outrageous and ridiculous allegation, Singhvi said at a press meet in Washington.

His comments followed Rasgotras claim that the decision to give Anderson safe passage was taken by the Home Ministry under Narsimha Rao in consultation with the Cabinet Secretary.

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The allegation is purely political, Singhvi said. …Why this gentleman is saying this for the first time after 25 years?… If there was the slightest of evidence,these allegations would have been made earlier.

However,Congress leaders in Delhi maintained silence,urging everybody to wait for the GoM report.