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Sunday, Aug 06, 2006

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Justice Pathak dismisses Opposition charge

Special Correspondent

Denies that Natwar Singh was made a "scapegoat" in report

NEW DELHI: Justice R.S. Pathak, who headed the one-man Inquiry Authority that probed the oil-for-food scam, on Saturday dismissed the Opposition allegation that the former External Affairs Minister, K. Natwar Singh, was made a "scapegoat" while the Congress was exonerated in his report.

"Please read the report. You will understand everything. I do not want to make any comment now," Mr. Justice Pathak said.

The former Chief Justice of India presented the 110-page report to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Thursday.

The Authority was set up by the UPA Government in November last, when the Iraqi oil-for-food scam broke out, with a mandate to probe the involvement of certain Indian politicians and businessmen. It is reported to have found that Mr. Natwar Singh had "misused" his position for bagging oil contracts during Saddam Hussein's regime between 1996 and 2003.

On reports quoting Mr. Natwar Singh that Mr. Justice Pathak had given a letter of recommendation to his son, Mr. Jagat Singh, for admission to a British law college, he said: "I do not recall. It was so long ago."

Asked if he remembered having given any letter of introduction to anyone during that period, Mr. Justice Pathak said: "Generally, I don't give such letters. But, I can't be sure." Mr. Pathak added that he knew Mr. Natwar Singh but did not recall knowing his son Jagat Singh.

Ahmedabad Special Correspondent reports:

Prithviraj Singh Chavan, Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office, denied that the Pathak committee report was "leaked" from the PMO.

Talking to mediapersons here, he, however, hinted that what appeared in the media "may not be what the report contained."

As soon as the report was submitted to the PMO, the sealed cover was sent to the Finance Minister's office. But before it even reached the Finance Ministry, there was news in the media about the report, said Mr. Chavan.

He said he had not seen the report.

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