Click to play videoNew Delhi: Former defence minister George Fernandes has given the latest twist to the Bofors scam. On Saturday night he said that former prime minister Atal Behari Vajpayee told him not to touch the Bofors file when he was in office.
It’s been a long journey for the veteran socialist. From his hey day of leading Mumbai's taxi unions to fighting against communal forces to finally joining hands with the BJP - George Fernandes has seen it all.
Now in the twilight of his political career he has chosen to embark on another journey. With that in mind he took the first step accusing Vajpayee of deliberately going slow on Bofors.
Fernandes said, “Vajpayee said don’t do anything on Bofors. Don’t touch it. I don’t know why he said it."
It could well be a wild shot fired by Fernandes in the hope that he would end up achieving his ultimate political objective. That of doing something on his own.
While it may well end up in some of the sting going missing from BJP's intense campaign against the Congress in Parliament.
The million dollar question is why has Fernandes spoken out now. Within the JDU his position has been marginalised. Most decisions are now taken by the duo of Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and JDU senior leader Sharad Yadav.
With the BJP joining hands with the JDU in Bihar, there are not too many supporters of Fernandes within the BJP too.
Senior BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad said, “He has been a cabinet minister. I don’t know why he is saying all this now."
Sources say that Fernandes could well be eyeing a future with his former Lohiaite friend UP Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav who is getting ready to fight the battle of his career.
If that happens, it will be the joining of two of the tallest socialist leaders of the country both who have their backs to the wall.
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