Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar
Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar has dropped a bombshell by alleging that "some former Prime Ministers compromised India's deep assets" on national security, possibly referring to information sources, but he has not named anyone.
A furious Congress, which has been in power for much of the past six decades and bowed out in May last year after two successive terms, has asked the minister to either give names or apologise.
Mr Parrikar reportedly made the comments while explaining why he did not want to reveal details about a Coast Guard operation on December 31 in which a boat from Pakistan blew up after being intercepted off the Gujarat coast. The source of information might have been compromised, he said.
"We intercepted it from 200 km away. For 24 hours, the boat was going in circles. Is that not enough proof? What more do you (reporters) want? I was asked to give 'proof' but I refused. I said 'absolutely not' because the source might be compromised. You have to build assets and you have to build deep assets. Deep assets are assets which have to be created over 20-30 years, but this country has seen PMs who have compromised deep assets. I won't take names. Many people know," Mr Parrikar said at an event in Mumbai.
Opposition parties, including the Congress, had questioned the Coast Guard operation and demanded evidence that the vessel that exploded with four men on it, was carrying suspected terrorists.
Mr Parrikar mocked the Congress for making the demand. "Tomorrow, during such an operation, we will take along a cameraman and also the Congress spokesperson," he said.
Congress leader Manish Tewari said the Defence Minister has made a "very grave charge."
He said, "What does the defence minister mean when he accused former PM of compromising with deep assets? What sort of deep assets he is talking about? Are they strategic or are they intelligence assets? He should come out with facts if he has any else he should apologize. You can't tar former prime ministers of India, irrespective of party, with a black brush."