Janata Party president Subramanian Swamy on Thursday clarified that when he participated in a seminar in 2003 on Kashmir, organised by an organisation run by U.S.-based Kashmir activist Ghulam Nabi Fai, he was unaware that Dr. Fai was an “undercover agent of a foreign power.”
Dr. Fai has been arrested by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) for receiving millions of dollars in funds from Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) to influence politicians and opinion makers on Kashmir.
In a statement, Dr. Swamy said he delivered an address on Kashmir in the seminar held in the U.S. Senate Building in Washington in the summer of 2003. At that time, he was teaching economics at the Harvard University. He had checked with the Indian Embassy about the organisers and was told that ‘it was an anti-Indian gathering but not that it was ISI-inspired.”
Dr. Swamy said his friends also did not know that Dr. Fai was working for the ISI but had assumed that a meeting at the Senate Building would not have been permitted without security clearance. He had, however, requested the Embassy to send an official with him to take notes and for consultations. His speech had since been published in the print media in India and that it made the point Kashmir was part of India. “It is impossible to know unless briefed who is an undercover agent of a foreign power.”
Criminal complaint
The FBI, in a criminal complaint against the Kashmir American Council, of which Dr. Fai is the director, had alleged that the forum had violated U.S. laws that prohibited work for foreign governments without authorisation, by receiving contributions from the ISI. Such funds were also used to organise conferences attended by prominent figures.
Comments:
Any one of the stature and calibre of Dr.Swamy would not have participated in any seminar of any organization, known to be attended by anti-India gathering. Dr.Swamy's explanation is neither convincing nor satisfactory.
Why should an ex-Minister attend a meeting organized by an anti-Indian group in a foreign country on a subject like Kashmir, so sensitive to the national interest? A Minister takes an oath when he is sworn in as a Minister.There is an unwritten convention for a Minister even after he leaves office not to say or do anything which may compromise the position of the country as he is privy to many sensitive information during his tenure.It is also customary for someone who held high position not to criticize the policy of the Government while in a foreign territory.His speech in a platform known to be anti-Indian, and now known to be subversive to India's security can be exploited to the detriment of country's position.Unfortunately,in India there is a tendency among many public figures to rush to a foreign platform particularly when it is in the Western country to bask in lime light.This is entirely avoidable.
When things going right they will definetly take the credit, but scams and lapse of security happens, it has become a fashion for all political leaders to say that iam not aware of it. We are seeing this quite often. The word which can be used frequently by the politicans are 'IAM NOT AWARE OF IT"
Let us sincerely hope that Subramanian Swamy will not do that again i.e. without checking the antecedents he will not participate in such meetings.
You are right Mr Mohan. Whenever, MLA, MP and Ministers are in problem due to their acts, they always take excuse of 'I AM NOT AWARE OF IT'. But when common people, or public servants, working in Govt or PSUs do the same thing, they are caught and punished with a saying 'YOU MUST BE AWARE OF WHAT IS TO BE DONE AND WHAT IS TO BE NOT DONE IN THE INTEREST OF COUNTRY'. There must be an end to all these afairs...
It would make sense to actually read what he spoke about in that meeting and then make judgement calls. But then, this being politics, we cannot expect logic to be used while criticizing a person.
@Ramesh L: You are absolutely spot on with this argument. You must know that there will be few ears listening. It is of great importance to recollect what he went there to represent. He is a bold person and I am sure he would have made a tough stand but that is just what I suspect personally.
FROM THE ARTICLE ABOVE: "He had, however, requested the Embassy to send an official with him to take notes and for consultations. His speech had since been published in the print media in India and that it made the point Kashmir was part of India. " Did everyone miss that? I wonder why people are blaming his actions without really knowing what was said there by him. Time to read that manuscript perhaps?
Mr. Swamy has cross checked with Indian embassy and they have given clear answer that., its anti-India gathering. Then what is the need to get involved and give speech?
It is interesting to know that Dr.Swamy had chosen to attend this seminar despite being briefed by the Indian Mission about the members being anti-India.
Instead of applauding Dr. Swamy that he could go to an anti india conference and tell that Kashmir is a part of India. How many of our leaders have been able to make such a statement even in UN.
Instead of blaming the individuals who participated in the Seminar, our Intelligence organisations like IB and RAW should be blasted for their utter faliure even with unaccountable money at their disposal to conduct and fullfill their work. Few years back Indian Express has highlighted with names of the individuals from such deparments, whose only interest was to get Green card for their siblings and family members. Some of them are stinking rich with money stashes in Swiss accounts and properties outside of India. It is high time some enquiry is done on past and present employees of IB and RAW to weed out the corrupt.
This is white lie by Dr.Swamy,a man who knows what is Sonia Gandhi's original name, where she originally comes from, what is her true educational qualification etc., etc., cannot say he was unaware of who Dr. Fai is, he proved that he is also a true politician.
We have nothing to do with pakistan and ISI and Dr. Fai who is USA's citizen. We the people of kashmir never wished to get help from USA.We believe in ourselves. Inshallah we will get to the solution of kashmir.
Its like criminal shaking hand with a famous person and later everyone starts blaming celebrity of being a criminal too. Dr Swamy is not a friend of ISI agent and there is no harm attending a seminar organized by someone. It is stupid that Dr swamy had to give explanation for this and still many people will doubt his authenticity.
Did he deliver anything against India in his speech in seminar? No. It is absolutely fine to go in peaceful events of your enemy to find peace.
SO far nothing has gone against Dr Swamy, who is a bold and dynamic leader in India, by raising such issue, on which he has clarified his stand loud and clear that "KASHMIR IS PART OF INDIA", how many leaders have the guts to speak against the wind and that too, at a seminar held by anti-Indian group. Remember, the "So-called" iron man Mr L K Advani, has spoken about Mohammed Ali Jinnah, when he was in Pakistan. But, Swamy the brave leader has taken the organisers head-on in a foreign land. We need more such leaders who can speak the truth.
Instead of blaming Dr. S Swamy for making a speech tell me how many of us will be able to speak the truth even in our local meetings. Many a times some speakers write their speech and send to many people to find whether it will hurt /spoil their relations with certain segment of leaders/political party so making a fiery speech or saying the truth is itself a good thing. We can never forget the fact that BECAUSE of DR SWAMY common people were aware of 2G SCAM for initally alone DR.SWAMY pointed out the corruption involved.