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"Heavens would not have fallen if the CBI had waited for two or three months. Timing is very bad. It smacks of vendetta," Hegde told reporters in Bangalore after attending a function.
Hegde, however, hastened to add that the case against George did not 'develop overnight' and obviously it was not 'cooked up' as investigations were going on.
Congress had on Thursday described the CBI action as a 'desperate' attempt by the National Democratic Alliance to save itself by any means in the wake of the Tehelka expose.
Hegde said he did not subscribe to the view that the 'expose' was a conspiracy against the NDA government.
"I think Tarun Tejpal and Tehelka have done a great service to the country in exposing corrupt practices in civil administration, politics and defence services."
Asked if the 'expose' would adversely affect NDA constituents in the coming assembly elections in five states, he replied in the affirmative. "If George Fernandes had resigned immediately after the Tehelka expose, the loss of credibility and face for the government, the country and the prime minister could have been avoided," he said.
Continuing his attack on Fernandes, Hegde said, "While Fernandes has been removed as defence minister, he continues to be convenor of NDA."
He said he would not like to be part of the NDA as long as Fernandes was its convenor.
On reports of large sums of money being spent for the Congress plenary session held in Bangalore recently, he said every Congressman should ask where the money came from.
Hegde said he wanted the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government to complete its full term in office.
"It's a great experiment. There might be drawbacks here and there. It should complete its full term so that it could be an example to the next coalition government."
For the next 15 years to 20 years, he said there would be coalition governments.
Asked if the Vajpayee government would survive the 'expose', he said, "I don't know what else is going to come."
On efforts to prop up a third front, Hegde said, "Third Front is still-born."
PTI
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