The Hindu : Opinion / Letters to the Editor : Volcker issue

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Monday, Dec 05, 2005

Opinion

Opinion - Letters to the Editor

Volcker issue

Apart from giving a new twist to the controversy raised by the Volcker report, which named Natwar Singh and the Congress as beneficiaries of the oil-for-food programme in Iraq, the reported interview of Aniel Matherani and his subsequent denial (Dec. 3) raise some questions.

What was the reason for his long silence? At a time when the issue is rocking Parliament and the investigating authorities are seized of the matter, why did Mr. Matherani have an informal, off-the- record conversation with a journalist instead of deposing before the investigating authorities?

M.S. Rajasekaran,
Chennai

Mr. Matherani's denial of having given any formal interview and his claim that an off-the-record conversation was published after being distorted have dealt a body blow to the Opposition.

E.K. Das,
Palakkad, Kerala

The latest development is certainly an embarrassment to the UPA Government and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

V.S. Ganeshan,
Bangalore

The matter has gone too far. On moral grounds, Mr. Natwar Singh should resign immediately.

As for the Prime Minister, he is an honest man and should preserve his image by asking Mr. Singh to go.

Shailesh Kumar,
Bangalore

Congress leaders should follow the example of their erstwhile leader Lal Bahadur Shastri who resigned as Railway Minister after a train accident near Ariyalur, Tamil Nadu.

To reiterate his integrity and to enable the parliamentary session to continue without interruption, Mr. Natwar Singh should quit.

K. Ramamoorthy,
Hyderabad

Mr. Matherani's volte face only reinforces the suspicion that a cover-up is being orchestrated. No longer can the Congress say the reference to Mr. Natwar Singh in the issue is unsubstantiated.

S. Sundararaman,
Bangalore

Why this reluctance of the Prime Minister to drop Mr. Natwar Singh?

V.V.S. Mani,
Bangalore

The BJP's response to the Volcker issue in Parliament leaves a lot to be desired. The party seems to have forgotten that stalling the proceedings is not the sole function of the Opposition.

The demand for Sonia Gandhi's resignation defies all logic. It is time the BJP moved beyond its unreasonable tactics.

Priya Mathur,
New Delhi

The noise being made by the BJP is a ploy to divert the people's attention from the embarrassment caused by the Uma Bharti issue.

M. Bhimashankar,
Hyderabad

The winter session of Parliament has literally come to a standstill. Disruptions have become routine, mundane affairs. The UPA Government should ask Mr. Natwar Singh to step down till the enquiry is over, enabling the smooth conduct of the session.

The Opposition and the Treasury benches should display a greater sense of responsibility and accord top priority to issues of national importance.

Inamdar Ramachandra,
Bangalore

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