JKPCC hits out at Malik over remark on Rajiv Gandhi

Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) president Ghulam Ahmad Mir Friday criticised Governor Satya Pal Malik for his remarks on former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, saying he was misusing his position to "please his boss".

"Malik is misusing his position as State Governor in order to please his boss by joining the vilification campaign against Rajiv Gandhi who was martyred for the nation," Mir said in a statement.

The Governor on Thursday told reporters here that Rajiv Gandhi was not initially corrupt but, under the influence of some people, he got involved in the Bofors corruption case.

Reacting to the comments, Mir said: "Malik has joined the vilification campaign of the BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi least caring for his position as Governor, which prohibits him from indulging in this kind of malicious campaign against the former Prime Minister who is no more and laid down his life for the nation".

The JKPCC chief said the Governor is also aware of the fact that nothing could be established against Rajiv Gandhi after the long-drawn legal battle spreading over more than three decades.

"As constitutional head of the state, Malik cannot comment at his own convenience and whims in a highly irresponsible and objectional manner while holding the position of the Governor. He has lowered the dignity of his office. It is not his domain so long he holds this august position," Mir said.

He said after the Bofors controversy, several non-Congress governments came into power in the country, including five years of Atal Bihari Vajpayee-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government and five years of the Modi-led government, but nothing could be established despite all sorts of efforts to drag Rajiv Gandhi's name into the matter.

"It is very unfortunate that Modi as prime minister is indulging in malicious vilification campaign when asked to explain the Rafale deal. He has got unnerved over continuous efforts of Congress president Rahul Gandhi to expose the biggest ever defence scam in the country," he claimed.

Modi at a rally in Uttar Pradesh last Saturday targeted Congress chief Rahul Gandhi, saying, "Your father (Rajiv Gandhi) was termed Mr Clean by his courtiers, but his life ended as 'bhrashtachari' no 1 (corrupt number 1)."

Besides, in a sensational charge, Modi on Wednesday accused the Gandhi family of using warship INS Viraat as its "personal taxi" when Rajiv Gandhi was the prime minister. PTI MIJ CK