Union Law Minister M Veerappa Moily on Saturday attacked a top aide of Rajiv Gandhi for suggesting that the then prime minister may have had a role in the release of former Union Carbide chief Warren Anderson accused in Bhopal gas case, saying he was a new convert to the Bharatiya Janata Party-Shiv Sena camp.
"I think he (P C Alexander) had joined BJP, and with Shiv Sena's support he became a Rajya Sabha member. He is a new convert to the BJP-Shiv Sena and anti-Congress camp because he was not considered for presidentship. It is a motivated statement," he told mediapersons.
He said many persons like Alexander, former principal secretary to Rajiv Gandhi, suddenly wanted to be martyrs.
"I think he is responsible (for Anderson's sudden release after his arrest in December 1984) because he was the then principal secretary," he added.
Alexander had hinted that Rajiv Gandhi may have had a role in the release of Anderson as the then prime minister could have agreed with the decision on letting him off.