Advani links navy War Room leak to Scorpene submarine deal

NEW DELHI: Opposition leader LK Advani charged on Sunday that the navy War Room leak was linked to the Scorpene submarine deal. Advani also asked the government to explain the "delay" in ordering CBI raids.

"We have been saying that the navy War Room leak and the Scorpene deal are linked but the government had maintained that there was no foul play. If that was the case, why did the CBI conduct raids at places including those of people whose names have been linked with the scam?" Advani said.

The CBI had on Friday conducted searches at 19 places in four cities against retired and serving defence officials, businessman Abhishek Verma and a chartered account in connection with the navy War Room leak case. Advani demanded that the Prime Minister reply to his question that if there was no foul play, why had the government ordered the raids three months after the case was registered.

"Why this delayed action? Was it an effort to give time to the accused to destroy evidence? After the raids, the CBI had said that the War Room leak case was part of a larger conspiracy. I demand that the Prime Minister explain what that larger conspiracy is," he said.

He was speaking at a party function organised to observe the 31st anniversary of the Emergency as “Save Democracy Day”. Advani did not forget to remind everybody his affiliations with the RSS. "I am proud that we in the BJP, along with the RSS, played an important role in the struggle against the Emergency," he said.