KGB bribed Indian politicians, claims book

Sandeep Bhushan: "Reviews of "The Mitrokhen archives II- The KGB and the world", a book based on documents stolen by former KGB achivist Vasili Mitrokhen has created a political storm in India even before its launch here.

In 1992 former KGB archivist Vasili Mitrokhin defected to the West. He had smuggled thousands of pages of highly classified reports from the Soviet spy agency.

Seven years later, "The Sword and the Shield' was published, written by Professor Christopher Andrew, a leading authority on intelligence history.

It was based on the documents smuggled by Mitrokhin, revealing just how extensive KGB operations were in America and Europe. The India connection has been made in the sensational follow up ? just published ? which is now creating controversy.

While the BJP says the Congress must answer the many questions the book raises, the Congress and CPI call it a pack of lies aimed at pushing sales.

Congress Rajya Sabha MP, R K Dhawan served former prime minister Indira Gandhi as personal secretary between 1971 till October 1984 when she died.

He says details in this book about the KGB's operations in India during her tenure as prime minister and earlier are not true.

"There was proximity between Soviet Union and India, but it is ridiculous to suggest that any of the ministers including L N Mishra were on the pay rolls of the KGB," said R K Dhawan, MP, Congress.

Among the book's many startling allegations is that
The KGB provided funds to the Congress and the CPI.


The KGB routinely bribed Left and Congress politicians including ministers in Indira Gandhi's cabinet


The KGB spent 10.6 million Rubles, or about Rs 130 million at the then inflated exchange rate in 1975 to "strengthen support for Indira Gandhi and undermine her political opponents".


In 1977, the KGB is said to have funded the election campaign of 21 non-communist politicians including four ministers. The book claims Congress leader L N Mishra was on KGB payrolls.


It also says, the CPI was paid through former general secretary C Rajeshwar Rao and a business deal involving general secretary Ajoy Ghosh.
"There is not an iota of truth in all this, but it does make for a good fictitious detective novel," said A B Bardhan, General Secretary, CPI.

These allegations have also been denied by L N Mishra's family in Patna.

"This is a lie. It is a fabrication. It smacks of prejudice," said Jagannath Mishra, L N Mishra's brother. The BJP and RSS say these allegations prove what they have been saying all along. They say the government should explain these charges.

"These are serious allegations, the Congress has a lot of answers to give," said Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, spokesperson, BJP.

"There is no evidence. Why should there be an investigation into any baseless thing that comes up," said Abhishek Manu Sanghvi, spokesperson, Congress.

The allegations pertain to the period when not merely the CPI but the government of India was considered close to the Soviet Union.

However, there is little to suggest that national security was compromised or that the KGB decisively influenced government policy.

In the days ahead however, allegations and counter allegations are bound to continue."