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Mizzima: George Fernandes returns t
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George Fernandes returns to the Cabinet
Mizzima News (www.mizzima.com)
New Delhi, Oct. 15: Mr. George Fernandes, who is known for his support
for the Burmese pro-democracy movement, got his old job back today as he
was inducted into Cabinet as the defence minister in a Cabinet reshuffle
this afternoon.
The Samata Party leader Mr. Fernandes had resigned from the government
"on moral grounds" after a Tehelka exposé on corruption in defence deals
seven months ago. The defence portfolio was then given to External
Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh.
It is likely that strong protests will be heard from the opposition in
the coming days and weeks. The main opposition Congress Party and left
parties already made clear on Saturday that they oppose the reinduction
of George Fernandes into Cabinet as "the Venakatswami Commission probing
Tehelka's revelations has not cleared him".
In a startling revelation in March this year, the Internet news portal
alleged corruption in defence deals in high places. In video recordings,
presidents of two ruling political parties (Bharatiya Janata Party and
Samata Party) were shown receiving bribes from the Tehelka reporters who
pretended to be arms dealers. The Venkataswami Commission was set up by
the government to probe the allegations.
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<center><font color="#3333FF"><font size=+2>George Fernandes returns to
the Cabinet</font></font></center>
<p><i><font color="#FF0000"><font size=+1>Mizzima News <a href="http://www.mizzima.com";>(www.mizzima.com)</a></font></font></i>
<p><font size=+1><b><i>New Delhi, Oct. 15:</i></b> Mr. George Fernandes,
who is known for his support for the Burmese pro-democracy movement, got
his old job back today as he was inducted into Cabinet as the defence minister
in a Cabinet reshuffle this afternoon.</font>
<p><font size=+1>The Samata Party leader Mr. Fernandes had resigned from
the government "on moral grounds" after a Tehelka exposé on corruption
in defence deals seven months ago. The defence portfolio was then given
to External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh.</font>
<p><font size=+1>It is likely that strong protests will be heard from the
opposition in the coming days and weeks. The main opposition Congress Party
and left parties already made clear on Saturday that they oppose the reinduction
of George Fernandes into Cabinet as "the Venakatswami Commission probing
Tehelka's revelations has not cleared him".</font>
<p><font size=+1>In a startling revelation in March this year, the Internet
news portal alleged corruption in defence deals in high places. In video
recordings, presidents of two ruling political parties (Bharatiya Janata
Party and Samata Party) were shown receiving bribes from the Tehelka reporters
who pretended to be arms dealers. The Venkataswami Commission was set up
by the government to probe the allegations.</font>
<br>
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