Close X
Thursday, November 28, 2024
ADVT 
India

CIA penetrated every sphere of UPA: Natwar Singh

Darpan News Desk IANS, 04 Aug, 2014 08:45 AM
    Former external affairs minister Natwar Singh has alleged that the US exerted pressure on then prime minister Manmohan Singh in the choice of his ministers and also claimed that CIA agents had "penetrated deep into every sphere of decision and policy making of the UPA regime".
     
    "At one stage when Manmohan Singh was trying to dissuade me from becoming the foreign minister because of Washington's active opposition to my name, he confided in me about the all-pervasive influence of the Americans in the Indian power set-up," Natwar Singh said in an interview to TV news channel Focus News over the weekend.
     
    Natwar Singh's autobiography "One Life is not Enough" has already created a stir in political circles by claiming Congress president Sonia Gandhi had access to key government files and that her decision to not accept the prime minister's post was influenced by her son Rahul Gandhi, who feared she might be assassinated like his father Rajiv Gandhi and grandmother Indira Gandhi were.
     
    Natwar Singh also alleged that Washington tried its best to stop Pranab Mukherjee from becoming the finance minister in the Manmohan Singh government.
     
    "They (US diplomats) were lobbying hard for Montek Singh Ahluwalia but somehow could not succeed in making him the finance minister," he said.
     
    Natwar Singh, who had been a close confidante of Sonia Gandhi in the past, said that both Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi cannot escape the responsibility of bringing the party to its present hopeless tally of 44 MPs in the Lok Sabha - the lowest ever.
     
    He, however, contended that a Congress minus the Gandhi family would fare worse.
     
    "But remove the Gandhis from the scene and the party would be reduced to just four MPs," Natwar Singh said.
     
    Natwar Singh, who has described Sonia Gandhi with harsh words such as "secretive" and "Machiavellian" in his autobiography, further criticised her for surrounding herself with sycophants.
     
    He questioned the continuation of Ahmed Patel as her principal political advisor for long.
     
    "What qualifications and experience Ahmed Patel has to be the principal political advisor to the Congress president? What is his vision of India... he has no vision! It's people like these who have brought the Congress party to this sorry state," Natwar Singh said.

    MORE India ARTICLES

    Uttar Pradesh rape victim gets Rs.3 lakh

    Uttar Pradesh rape victim gets Rs.3 lakh
    A girl who was raped by a constable in Uttar Pradesh has got Rs.3 lakh monetary relief from the state government following the National Human Rights Commission's (NHRC) directive, an official said Friday.

    Uttar Pradesh rape victim gets Rs.3 lakh

    Indian-origin steward on board MH17 swapped flights

    Indian-origin steward on board MH17 swapped flights
    An Indian origin flight steward was among the 15 crew members on board the Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 that was shot down over Ukraine Thursday, media reported Friday.

    Indian-origin steward on board MH17 swapped flights

    Wipro wins 10-year deal from Canadian firm

    Wipro wins 10-year deal from Canadian firm
    Indian IT bellwether Wipro Ltd Friday announced winning a 10-year deal from Atco Ltd, a leading Canadian firm, to provide total outsourcing solutions in Canada and Australia.

    Wipro wins 10-year deal from Canadian firm

    40 injured, 100 tents torched in Amarnath Yatra base camp clash

    40 injured, 100 tents torched in Amarnath Yatra base camp clash
    Over 40 people were injured in clashes between security forces and protesters in Baltal base camp of the Amarnath Yatra in Jammu and Kashmir after a scuffle between a local pony operator and a cook turned violent, police said. The situation was in control now, said a senior police officer.

    40 injured, 100 tents torched in Amarnath Yatra base camp clash

    HSGPC row: Badal meets Modi as Haryana remains defiant

    HSGPC row: Badal meets Modi as Haryana remains defiant
    Upset at the controversy over setting up of a separate board to oversee Sikh gurdwaras in Harayana, Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi Friday to seek the central government's intervention.

    HSGPC row: Badal meets Modi as Haryana remains defiant

    Clinton spends two hours in Lucknow village, also meets Akhilesh

    Clinton spends two hours in Lucknow village, also meets Akhilesh
    Former US president Bill Clinton arrived here Thursday afternoon to participate in a social activity in Jabrauli, a village on the outskirts of the state capital.

    Clinton spends two hours in Lucknow village, also meets Akhilesh