'HONEST MAN' FIGHTS FOR TRUTH

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP90-00552R000201560001-8
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: July 6, 2010
• Sequence Number: 1
• Publication Date: July 18, 1985
• Content Type: OPEN SOURCE

Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/07/06: CIA-RDP90-00552R000201560001-8
ARTICLE APPEAR CHICAGO TRIBUNE
am PAG 18 July 1985
"Horwsl man' fights for t
India's Desai battling charges of links to the CIA
By Nadine Epstein whole character. That is where the worried. My philosophy has always STAT
whole issue comes in." been: Do the work that comes your
Former Indian Prime Minister Desai's ire was aroused when a Way. l have never sought anything
Morarji Desai rises at 4 a.m. Chicago based organization known in my life that I have done."
each day to pray, fasts one as Indians Abroad for Truth called That includes serving as prime
day each fortnight to cleanse and asked him to sue Hersh, offer- muuster, he said, although his role
body and drinks his own urine ing to cover his expenses. in the political maneuverings of
daily. Having little faith in modern the Janata Party is well recorded.
medicine, the 90-year-old states- "They phone to me in Bombay in "That also I didn't ask for," he
man has not been to a doctor in 1984 and said that this is an insult said. "They selected me. They
more than 50 years. to the whole nation, not only to me, were surprised that I went to sleep
But while the ascetic nonage- and asked me to file a case," Desai [on election night]. They thought I
narian radiates a simplicity and says. "If I said no, there would be would be working, asking some-'
well-being that admits no worries a presumption that I had body,; I didn't ask somebody. I
in this life, he has at least one. He something to hide." didn't ask any one man to propose
is concerned that his historical rep- "The majority of Indians remem- me."
utation may have been tarnished ber Desai because he is one of our Still, Desai has omitted some
by the words of Pulitzer Prize- oldest leaders," says supporter details that do not support his.
winning journalist Seymour Hersh, Bhailal Patel, chairman of. Indians claims. He was the center of atten-
so concerned that he has flown 29 Abroad for Truth. "He has always tion during the move to replace
hours each way between Bombay lived a spiritual life, and people in Indira Ghandi. As finance minister
and Chicago twice since May, 1984, India know that and admire him." in the 1960s, he had enormous
to pursue a $100 million libel suit "Does Desai want little children influence on his country and enjoy-
against Hersh and the publishing in the Gujarti [an Indian. state] ed the public attention, often going
firm of Simon & Schuster. school system to learn that Morarji out of his way to pose for publicity
Hersh. in Desai betrayed his country to the Photos with other world leaders.
Price of Power' i enti a Desai Americans?" asks Susanne Ru- At first, Desai refuses to talk
TT_ - _ ? __-- _-- Aolph professor of political science about his time in office, then, sud-
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