As Defence Minister, went slow on Bofors case: Mulayam Singh Yadav

LUCKNOW: Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Mulayam Singh Yadav said on Wednesday that he went slow on Bofors files when he was the defence minister during the United Front government.

Speaking at a function at Ram Manohar Lohia Law University, the SP chief said he had gone to border areas in Jammu & Kashmir and found Bofors guns were working perfectly. "Then I decided to go slow on Bofors files and ensured that no politician got entangled in litigation."

"When it comes to Bofors, people talk ill of Rajiv Gandhi. But when I, as defence minister, saw Bofors working, I felt that he had done something good. Bofors guns were superb. So I decided that no politicians would be penalised for Bofors," he said.

People often don't understand the circumstances in which a politician works, he said, adding, “People call ministers at odd hours and they get response. But try calling an IAS officer and then you will know."