The Hindu : Front Page : Natwar Singh refuses to resign

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Dec 05, 2005

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Natwar Singh refuses to resign

Special Correspondent

Matherani taken away to undisclosed location by ED and Intelligence officials

NEW DELHI: Minister without portfolio Natwar Singh on Sunday refused to "sacrifice" himself by quitting the Union Council of Ministers as it would look like an admission of guilt and might not stop with his resignation.

On the other hand, sleuths from the intelligence agencies and the Enforcement Directorate on Saturday night picked up for questioning India's Ambassador to Croatia Aniel Matherani whose reported claims in connection with the Volcker issue have led to a fresh standoff between the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) and the Opposition.

Mr. Singh said he continued in the Cabinet not for the love of office but because "I am not guilty of any wrongdoing in law or spirit. I refuse to sacrifice myself. I am also aware that if I do that, it will not stop with me. The Opposition will use my resignation to further tarnish the reputation of the Congress Party. I will not let this happen." He also denied adding the name of his son Jagat Singh and his friend Andaleeb Sehgal to the official Congress delegation since "I had no authority to do so."

Mr. Matherani was met by officials from the Enforcement Directorate and intelligence agencies as soon as he landed at the airport here on Saturday night and taken to an undisclosed location to verify his statements given to a TV channel and a news magazine.

Breaking his silence, Mr. Jagat Singh admitted that he was not part of the official Congress delegation but had gone in his capacity as Youth Congress leader to assist his father, as he was unwell. He had informed the [then] Youth Congress president R.S. Surjewala, who had endorsed the trip.

But a few hours later, Mr. Surjewala in an interview to a TV channel denied Jagat Singh's assertion. "No one approached me for this. I did not clear the visit," said Mr. Surjewala, who is now the Haryana Transport Minister.

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