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Parrikar levels charges against some ex-PMs

By The Assam Tribune

MUMBAI/NEW DELHI, Jan 23 � Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar kicked up a storm with his allegation that some former Prime Ministers had �compromised� the country�s �deep assets�, triggering a demand by Congress that he give evidence or tender a public apology, reports PTI.

Parrikar, however, refrained from naming the former Prime Ministers.

Parrikar, a senior BJP leader, made the controversial remarks at an event in Mumbai yesterday while making a reference to the Coast Guard operation involving a boat coming from Pakistan. He said he did not give details about the incident as the �source (of information) might be compromised�.

�After all, you have to build deep assets. Deep assets are created over 20-30 years. Sadly, there were some Prime Ministers who compromised deep assets.

�I am not going to disclose names. Many people know,� Parrikar said after releasing a special issue of the Hindi weekly Vivek, on national security.

Congress called the charge serious and demanded evidence from Parrikar to substantiate his claim or tender a public apology.

BJP, however, stood behind the minister, saying if he has said something it should be taken with �gravitas� and rejected the demand for his apology.

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