The Research and Analysis Wing (raw) is the official intelligence agency dealing withexternal security. During the Janata regime, Morarji Desai brought raw under parliamentaryreview to ensure that it did not meddle in domestic politics. He thought Indira Gandhi hadmisused raw for partisan domestic politics.
Last week, a similar charge against raw surfaced in a report by The Indian Express.According to it, Dr J.K. Jain, former MP and member of the bjp national executive, whoalso owns a TV channel, wrote a letter to the prime minister.
Dr Jain wrote: "A report, which originated from the Research and Analysis Wing ofthe Cabinet Secretariat, has branded me a Pakistani agent and Jain TV as an isi outfit,without the knowledge or approval of the Hon'ble Home Minister. If India's premierintelligence outfits like the Research and Analysis Wing of the Cabinet Secretariat arecorrupted and their reports are manipulated, where are we leading the country to?"
The Express claims it has a copy of the letter. When it confronted Dr Jain, he refusedto comment. The correspondent, Harish Gupta, subsequently in a signed column quoted homeminister Advani saying that the raw report "must have been a slip".
The incident raises awkward questions that must be answered.
Was the Express report correct? If the purported letter does not exist, the paper owesan apology to Dr Jain. If it does exist, the government owes an explanation to the public.The government must state whether or not raw described
Dr Jain as an isi agent.
If raw did make the allegation, does the government stand by it? If it does not, rawofficials invite action. If it does, government ministers invite action. How can a knownisi agent continue as a member of the ruling party's national executive with access to thenation's most powerful leaders?
Home minister Advani's reported description of the raw report as "a slip"adds insult to injury. Earlier, investigative agencies had seized official secrets fromRomesh Sharma, allegedly linked to Dawood Ibrahim. Sharma allegedly passed the papers to aReliance Industries official. Thereafter, Advani promised Parliament a white paper on theisi. It never came.
Now people wonder: did Advani suppress the white paper because bjp leaders wereinvolved? The public awaits an answer.
To bring terrorists to order
I'm ready to cross the border,
But for the party's reputation
I'll even risk the nation!
