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Defence Minister George Fernandes said on Thursday that tehelka.com's expose of corruption in arms procurement was aimed at maligning the government and destabilising the defence set-up.
"The so-called investigative reports are to create sensation and malign the entire government set-up in the country. It is aimed at destabilising the defence set-up in the country and is regrettable," he said in a letter to the presiding officers of the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha before submitting his resignation to the prime minister.
Fernandes said he was more concerned about the morale of the armed forces. "I will not like for a moment that they carry an impression that while they are defending the borders of the country in adverse circumstances, the highest decision-making authority in the country is steeped in corruption. I, therefore, feel there is no option but to clarify this matter in public and tell the truth," he said in the letter.
Fernandes said that on the basis of tehelka.com's sensational investigative report, serious allegations pertaining to defence contracts have been levelled against political personalities, government officers and armed forces personnel.
He said he had been awaiting an opportunity to clarify the matter on the floor of Parliament, which has been not able to function since Wednesday. So he had sought the prime minister's permission to address the nation on Doordarshan.
"I am keen that the truth be told without any further loss of time, since claims by various characters in the aforesaid so-called report are being highlighted to create sensation and to malign the entire government set-up."
PTI
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