New Delhi: The decision to release three dreaded terrorists in exchange for passengers of IC-814 in 1999 was taken to secure the lives of passengers aboard the Indian Airlines aircraft, and all major political parties including the Congress had authorized the Vajpayee government to take an appropriate decision, former finance minister Yashwant Sinha said on Friday.
"It was an over-arching decision of the government, in consonance with the mood of the nation. We were not selling a book," Sinha said. As a member of the Cabinet Committee on Security during the hijack period, Sinha was privy to all crucial decisions linked to the hijack.
A S Dulat, chief of Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) during the hijack and later advisor to then PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee, has claimed in his new book that the government goofed up in dealing with the hijack.
Sinha, however said all parties were involved in the decision to release the terrorists. "As far as I remember, there were all-party meetings, and also with individual leaders of parties. While the facts of the situation were shared with responsible leaders of opposition parties, everyone said the government is best placed to take a decision, and government was authorized to take the decision," Sinha said. "Dulat is not blaming the political leadership... No advice was given by the CMG in that short time," he added.
04/07/15 Times of India
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"It was an over-arching decision of the government, in consonance with the mood of the nation. We were not selling a book," Sinha said. As a member of the Cabinet Committee on Security during the hijack period, Sinha was privy to all crucial decisions linked to the hijack.
A S Dulat, chief of Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) during the hijack and later advisor to then PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee, has claimed in his new book that the government goofed up in dealing with the hijack.
Sinha, however said all parties were involved in the decision to release the terrorists. "As far as I remember, there were all-party meetings, and also with individual leaders of parties. While the facts of the situation were shared with responsible leaders of opposition parties, everyone said the government is best placed to take a decision, and government was authorized to take the decision," Sinha said. "Dulat is not blaming the political leadership... No advice was given by the CMG in that short time," he added.
04/07/15 Times of India
