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Bhagwat ready for court martial

Sacked naval chief Admiral Vishnu Bhagwat has fired yet another salvo at Defence Minister George Fernandes saying that the government should produce details before accusing him of leaking information about the Advanced Technology Vessel (or nuclear submarine) project to the media.

The ATV projects have been much-talked-about and anyone can brouse through Internet (referring to Rediff On The NeT) and can see 700 to 800 articles about the project, he said in an informal chat with the media in Bombay.

Moreover, details of the secret defence projects that Fernandes has been talking about ''have appeared first in a Delhi-based national daily -- 25 days before I gave an interview to a Chennai-based daily.

''If it is a leak, who has leaked it first? And how can you call it a leak when the whole world knows about it?'' he asked, adding that at least 2,000 articles have been featured in various journals, magazines and newspapers the world over. Moreover, how can you sack a chief of staff because of a leak without even asking him to present his case, he questioned angrily.

Quoting defence ministry sources, the Delhi-based newspaper had reported details of the secret project, he said. The government should inquire into the matter and find out who leaked it as it had quoted defence ministry sources, he said adding that the article claimed that India was inching towards building nuclear-powered submarines. The ATV is to be armed with long-range submarine-launched ballistic missiles, the report said.

Giving details of his interview, Admiral Bhagwat said that ever since World War II warships have been designed to survive nuclear, biological and chemical attacks and all personnel have been trained to fight accordingly.

The nuclear haves are increasingly relying on sea-based nuclear deterrence in preference to land and air segments.

In fact, the United Kingdom and France have nuclear weapons only at sea. It is the only way out for a nation committed to no-first-use. The world has no better vehicle for ensuring second strike or retaliatory capacity than the nuclear submarine project, he had told the daily.

''Have I leaked anything? Or the article that has quoted defence ministry sources? Who is this source? You better find out... If I am sacked others should also have been sacked -- those who have been talking about it.

''I am ready for a court martial... Let them frame charges... Let the truth come out,'' he said adding that even during the times of great dictator Hitler admirals and generals were not sacked like this. ''I am not a peon or personal servant of the honourable defence minister,'' he said lambasting Fernandes. ''Who had authorised the said defence ministry sources to give this information? First find that out.''

Admiral Bhagwat added that he was ready to face any investigation or trial by any court or committee. ''Let the Intelligence Bureau go into the details... Or a Joint Parliamentary Committee probe the entire matter which resulted in my sacking.''

UNI

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