MUMBAI, APRIL 7: Sacked navy chief Admiral Vishnu Bhagwat tonight said he would be ``very happy to face court martial'' if the defence ministry produced evidence to back the charges made against him.``Let the charges and evidence be produced'', he said responding to an indication given by Defence Minister George Fernandes in a television interview that court martial of Bhagwat was being considered as some offences by the latter were grave transgressions of the Navy Act.Apprised about the Fernandes interview to Karan Thapar's ``On the record'' programme to be telecast by Doordarshan tomorrow, Bhagwat said those speaking of court martialling him would ``themselves have to face trial before the people's court''.
In the interview conducted in New Delhi, Fernandes was asked if leakage of the project was tantamount to treason. ``Yes, it is,'' he answered. ``Will you now consider court martialling him (Bhagwat)?,'' the questioner asked. Fernandes replied, ``it is a suggestion for action. It is a suggestion onwhich one would apply one's mind.''
To a specific question why Bhagwat was not court martialled since the charges against him were serious, Fernandes said ``I agree we were soft. I agree court martial may have been more appropriate way of dealing with it.''
Copyright © 1999 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.