From Jal Khambata

NEW DELHI: Sacked Navy chief Vishnu Bhagwat is hiding at an
undisclosed friend's residence in the capital's suburb Noida,
fearing threat to his life if he went back to Mumbai.

He is understood to have also written to President K R Narayanan
for his security and protection, fearing risk from the terrorist
elements friendly with Defence Minister George Fernandes.

The President has simply forwarded his letter to the Ministry of
Home Affairs for necessary action.

Admiral Bhagwat has claimed in his letter that his wife Nilofer
had received two threatening calls to be "beware your husband
will be eliminated like General Vaidya."

AFFIDAVIT: He opted to stay back in the capital since after
signing a 51-page suo moto affidavit before a notary in the
Patiala House Courts here on March 14, a Sunday, which he
rationalised as for "vindication of my personal honour and the
honour of the Armed Forces and for the protection of the
Republic."

Though the Congress denies any role in persuading Admiral
Bhagwat to make the affidavit, Rajya Sabha Congress member Kapil
Sibbal, who is a senior advocate, had helped him prepare it for
the benefit of members of Parliament.

The affidavit was clearly meant for use in Parliament to
confront the Government during debate as it was prepared within
two days of the decision in the two Houses of Parliament to fix
debate on Admiral Bhagwat's allegations on March 16 in the Rajya
Sabha and on March 18 in the Lok Sabha. 

The Congress and other opposition parties could not fix the
government in the other case of dismissed economic advisor Mohan
Guruswamy since they had no way to authenticate his allegations,
the Congress planned a strategy to have an affidavit from
Admiral Bhagwat which can then be authenticated in Parliament.

The Government, however, scurried away from the debate the
moment it learnt about the Bhagwat affidavit and there hangs the
tale of how it preferred to let important business including the
appropriation bill without which no money can be withdrawn from
the Centre and the Central Vigilance Commission Bill be drowned
in four days of continuous pandemoniums and adjournments.

AFFIDAVIT NOT FOR COURT OF LAW BUT FOR PARLIAMENT: Bhagwat has
made it ample clear as to for whom he was making the affidavit
as he concludes the affidavit with following statement:

"I have been saddened to witness attempts to subvert and destroy
institutions that have served this country well. It is the
strength and integrity of these institutions that in turn serve
democracy. It is time that the representatives of the people
took upon themselves the onerous task of safeguarding the
integrity of the Republic by protecting our institutions. ...

"Their denigration and subversion can only lead to anarchy. I
have supreme confidence in the strength of democratic traditions
and in the wisdom of our people's representatives. I am sure
that in this hour of need, they will set apart their political
differences and rise together to protect what we cherish the most."

The sacked admiral has, however, stated in the affidavit that he
was not revealing all. "I am in possession of information and
material of serious nature which I am not including in the
present affidavit, but which I am, subject to the oath of
secrecy in the contest of future appropriate proceedings in
accordance with law, willing to reveal in order to vindicate not
only my name and honour but also the honour of the armed forces
which I am proud to have served."

The affidavit also explains why Admiral Bhagwat did not go to
court so long against his summary dismissal in December. "There
was every likelohood of my succedding in such litigation.
However, I thought, in the best interests and traditions of my
pofession, not to pursue that remedy lest greater public harm is
done to the institutions of the armed forces." He has, however,
reserved his right to move the court in future "if situation arises."

GEORGE'S DUBIOUS CONNECTIONS: Though nothing big has been
revealed in the affidavit except for all that has already come
in the Media, courtesy his lawyer wife Nilofer, it is for the
first time that Admiral Bhagwat has revealed how and why he has
been accusing George Fernandes of links with terrorist outfits
and foreign intelligence agencies that have funded him "from
1974 onwards."

Claiming to have been personally informed about George's links
"through various credible sources,", Admiral Bhagwat states that
late Shri P N Haksar, advisor and principal secretary to Indira
Gandhi, had told him about it and that it as further confirmed
by defence expert K Subramaniam "who told me that he  was ware
of Mr Fernands' links with foreign intelligence agencies.

The affidavit also claims that then Army chief Gen. T N Raina
had told Admiral Bhagwat "that when Shri George Fernandes was
Industries Minister, he advised the Government to switch over to
Western arms purchases in toto and stop all supplies from the
then USSR." Fernandes had given the advice to then Prime
Minister Morarji Desai and and same was turned down since Gen.
Raina opposed it on professional grounds. END.
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