New Delhi: The Hindu Group Chairman N Ram is convinced that they are full protected by the fundamental right of freedom of speech and expression and cannot be forced to reveal the confidential sources which provided them with the Rafale documents.
On February 8, N Ram wrote in The Hindu that the Defence ministry had raised strong objections to ‘parallel discussions’ conducted by the PMO during the Rafale negotiations.
The noting on a MoD file was reproduced by the newspaper. The government claims these documents were stolen from the Defence Ministry and will invite prosecution under the Official Secrets Act. “We are well protected. We didn’t steal any documents,” Ram said while speaking to India Today TV.
He added that questions have to be raised on the decision making involved as well as the terms of the deal. ‘‘Government withheld information from the public. We just published it in public interest,” he said. Prashant Bhushan, who is seeking a review of the Rafale verdict, meanwhile, has said that, as was the case in the 2G or coal gate scam, the source of the documents was not revealed.
He told the Attorney General that he had obtained the documents from a whistleblower. He further argued, the Apex Court has given judgments to protect whistle blowers. The court has said that Contempt of Court Act and other Acts will not apply to them.
