Thursday, April 14 2005 19:37 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Ahmedabad: Senior Janata Dal United (JDU) leader and former Defence Minister George Fernandes today (Apr 14, 2005) said that his party would launch a countrywide agitation to protest the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Government, which is "bent upon demoralising the Army."

"The UPA Government is demoralising the Army by levelling baseless allegations on the arms deal made during Kargil war," Fernandes alleged at a news conference in Ahmedabad.

"Sarkar ne hamare upar jo yudh cheda hai, uska nished karne ke liye hum tayyar hai" (We are ready to counter the repeated attacks on us by the Government)," he said.

"Sarkar sena par anyay kar rahi hai" (The Government is being unjust to the Army)," Fernandes said adding that the Government does not have any clear information on any aspects of the war or defence matters but still it is casting aspersions on the Army.

Stating that the Government's behaviour is damaging the morale of the Army men, some of whom had sacrificed their lives for the country, Fernandes said, "This behaviour of the Government should be opposed tooth and nail."

The (JDU) leader also said that his party would also raise this issue in Parliament in a big way when it commences later this month (April).

"I am very angry over the whole issue and I will not take it lying down," he added.

Fernandes had yesterday (Apr 13, 2005) said, "Political vindictiveness is not new for me and I am ready to face any consequence."

Fernandes, who is in the city since yesterday, had also remarked "Those against me have always tried to curb me since my emergency days. It does not affect me."

He made these remarks after the UPA Government yesterday filed a second affidavit in the Supreme Court saying it has decided to refer to CBI for fresh probe 20 more arms deals carried out when Fernandes was the Defence Minister.