Government’s decision to release 710 files of NAC is welcome. An important source material for historians, researchers, political analysts, journalists etc to expose how legitimate powers of the executive were usurped by an extra-Constitutional authority. Created in 2004 (UPA-I) and dissolved on,2014 ( UPA-2) before PM Modi took over. Longest ever proxy rule by the de facto ruler.
Consider some home truths about NAC’s bizarre style of functioning . Located in a 5-star office in Lutyen’s Delhi its chain of command was carefully structured on need-to-know basis. Giving oral directions was the unwritten rule. These were quickly legitimized by the then de jure PM- who was richly endowed with pliability and a propensity to retain his comfort zone. Though incorruptible, he was dishonest, anyway.
Union secretaries used to be summoned direct to the NAC bypassing ministers. The nervous bureaucrats shared their predicaments with successive Cabinet Secretaries but without results. All hell broke loose. Scams after scams. CWG, 2G,Coalgate, Choppers gate, Rober Vadra’s illicit land deals etc. Ottavio Quattrocchi,‘ grand escape to Italy via London and Argentina, was deftly manipulated. Permission to CBI officers to fly to London to arrest Quattrocchi,was deliberately delayed to enable the culprit reach Italy and avoid arrest. Thanks to the Screening committee of Secretaries and the then Cabinet Secretary. Secretaries to the Chairperson NAC,were retired secretaries, handpicked by the Congress supremo. They must be questioned. All top appointments in GOI, PSUs and public sector banks bore the informal ( unsigned ) approvals of the supremo followed by signed legitimisation by de jure PM.The Prime Minister’s Relief Fund was blatantly misused by the de facto PM. Unfettered freedom to the supremo, without an iota of accountability. Chairperson NSA acting as super-PM, had prior access to all discussion papers before decision by competent authorities. Quiz the then Principal Secretary, Secretary or Joint Secretary to the then PM who carried files to NAC office for seeking oral directions . In short, the NAC committed all illegalities behind the screen. PM chose to turn a blind eye for a decade to remain in power, citing “compulsions of coalitions”.
ba8636b1-49e0-4734-ba69-30da3854ea6f|0|.0|96d5b379-7e1d-4dac-a6ba-1e50db561b04
Tags: