From Vijay Sabharwal

Kurukshetra: The controversy raging over the revelations made in his memoirs by former foreign minister in the Congress government, Natwar Singh, have reminded me of a conversation that I had with Ch. Bansi Lal, a former Defence Minister of India. Bansi Lal is believed to have played a pivotal role in 1976 when the Prime Minister, Indira Gandhi, imposed Emergency within the country.

Vijay in deep discussion with Ch. Bansi Lal

 

As a senior journalist, I enjoyed considerable access to Bansi Lal, who regarded me well and was very open with me on several occasions. Besides discussing important political actions with me, he used to even discuss family matters, in confidence. On two occasions, I recall asking him to tell me some ‘inside story’ regarding the imposition of the Emergency and the functioning of the Congress government during the period of the Emergency. Both times, Bansi Lal promptly responded with: “Sabharwal, weh bate mare sath shamshan me jawen ge” (Sabharwal, those things will go with me unto my cremation). For good measure, he added: “Iss ke liye BBC ne to bahut bhari rakam ke be offer ki thi, per maine kahay diya ki Indira-ji ke saath kaam kiya hai…. jite ji koi aisi baat nahi bolu ga jiss ko unhone mujhe confidence me kahi ho’ (BBC had even offered me considerable sum of money to tell these things, but I told them that – having worked with Indiraji – I would not disclose anything that she had spoken to me about in confidence or that I had learnt from my position of proximity).

 

He further used to say that I may criticize and speak ill of Sonia-ji as now I am fighting elections on my own party (Haryana Vikas Party), but would never utter a bad word for Indiraji.  

 

He was of the firm opinion that it was not ethically correct to publically disclose facts known by one through confidential interactions and one’s position of proximity to important figures. He stuck to this position by not revealing anything confidential in his lifetime. This contrasts sharply with the current trend of books being published with ‘tell-all scoops’ that the writers or subjects have come by through their positions of power or proximity to public figures. I wonder if, in the longer-term, this trend is likely to damage the trust that such relationships demand, and what impact that might have on governance itself.