Dramatic fall from grace for Natwar Singh

In 10 months, Natwar, once a key leader in the Cong's foreign policy establishment, has fallen from grace.

It appears to be the end of the road for septuagenarian Natwar Singh following his indictment by the Pathak Inquiry Committee in connection with Iraq's oil-for-food scam.

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In the space of 10 months, Natwar, once a key leader in the Congress's foreign policy establishment, has dramatically fallen from grace.

So much so that the man who was at the side of Congress President Sonia Gandhi during her interactions with foreign dignitaries ranging from former US president Bill Clinton to Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf is today literally without any friends in the party.

After the scam broke in October last year, Natwar was first stripped of his external affairs portfolio the following month and then had to quit the cabinet of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in December.

Natwar even came out with a statement on December 4 ruling out his resignation from the government and stating that this it would be tantamount to an admission of guilt.

But he was removed from the powerful Congress Steering Committee the same day after he failed to take cue to quit as a Union Minister despite several hints from his colleagues.