Not many Cong leaders ready to back Natwar

External Affairs Minister K Natwar Singh who is in the eye of a political storm over the Volcker Committee report has few sympathisers in his party. While the Congress is, apparently, reluctant to come to his defence, the attitude of his party colleagues is not encouraging either. They would prefer an official inquiry to clear his (Natwar) name.

In private discussions, many actually agree with the view of the Opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) that he should resign from the Cabinet to prevent any more embarrassment to the party and the government.

Even for the record, nobody is ready to vouchsafe for his innocence. "Why does he think is the US only after him. The Volcker report also indicts several influential individuals and companies from countries, which are deemed to be US allies," argued a senior Congress leader.

Some party leaders said they were not sure about the veracity of the allegations. "How much do you know about his son, Jagat Singh, or his friends. What if the allegations are proved later? We will have nowhere to hide," said a party office-bearer.

This probably also explains the Congress' official stance. While the party has gone on the offensive to get its name cleared from the scam in the UN oil-for-food programme for Iraq, it is non-committal on Singh's involvement leaving him to fend for himself.

Yesterday, the party decided to send a comprehensive legal notice to the UN and the Volcker Committee demanding disclosure of the materials on the basis of which the committee included its name among the non-contractual beneficiaries.

The press release announcing the party's decision, however, skipped any reference to the beleaguered minister.

Last Sunday, Congress spokesperson Anand Sharma had refused to comment on the allegations against Singh: "I speak for the party. The companies and individuals will speak for themselves."

Congress insiders explained that if Natwar Singh did not have many friends in the party today, he himself was to blame. "He built a thick wall between him and party workers. Even his friends could not get an appointment with him. How do you expect them to react now?" said a party general secretary.

He argued that the party's silence on the EAM indicated that the party high command was not quite convinced by his explanation either. "Given his proximity to 10, Janpath, you would expect the party to stand firmly by him, which is not the case. There is certainly something more than meets the eye," he said.