The Hindu : National : Investigate Reliance Petroleum's role in oil-for-food deal with Iraq, says CPI (M)

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Sunday, Aug 06, 2006

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Investigate Reliance Petroleum's role in oil-for-food deal with Iraq, says CPI (M)

Special Correspondent

Pathak `report' silent on biggest beneficiary: Prakash Karat

— Photo: PTI

POSER ON PATHAK REPORT: Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader Prakash Karat at a public rally in Ahmedabad on Saturday.

AHMEDABAD: The Communist Party of India (Marxist) on Saturday demanded an inquiry into the `benefits' cornered by Reliance Petroleum in the oil-for-food deal with Iraq in which the former External Affairs Minister, Natwar Singh, has been found to have "misused his position."

Party general secretary Prakash Karat told a press conference that he was surprised that both the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party were silent on the role played by the private sector oil company.

Even while refusing to comment on the outcome of the Pathak Inquiry Authority report, since he had not yet "seen" it, Mr. Karat said the `report' as leaked in the media had named three beneficiaries as guilty but was silent on the "biggest beneficiary," Reliance Petroleum, which was issued the maximum number of coupons.

He wondered why the Enforcement Directorate did not investigate the company's role and neither the Government nor the main Opposition party was raising the issue. He wanted an inquiry into the "leak" of the Pathak report before it was placed on the table of Parliament as it was in session.

On nuclear deal

Mr. Karat also wanted Parliament to debate the India-U.S. nuclear deal "as per the changed terms and conditions." Claiming that the new conditions in the law as passed by the U.S. Congress would be detrimental to the country's independent nuclear policy and sovereignty, he said no self-respecting country could accept them. Many of the terms and conditions of the deal envisaged last year had been changed. If the U.S. Congress could give the "sense of the House" on the issue, what was preventing India from discussing the deal in Parliament and communicating the "sense of the House."

The CPI(M) will pressure the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance Government at the Centre to re-impose the ban on forward trading in foodgrains and pulses, he said.

Mr. Karat, who was in Gujarat as part of the party's August campaign in various States against the rise in prices of essential commodities, said the main reason for the increase in the prices of foodgrains and pulses was forward trading allowed by the previous National Democratic Alliance Government.

Forward trading in foodgrains and pulses had led to speculators and hoarders indulging in massive hoarding of essential commodities resulting in the price rise. His party would urge the UPA Government to re-impose the ban. This would help de-hoarding of the massive stock of foodgrains and pulses cornered by big-time operators and dampen market prices.

Petroleum prices

About the hike in the prices of petroleum products, Mr. Karat said his party had always opposed the unnecessary hike and would continue to do so. If a revision of prices becomes inevitable due to the global rise in crude prices, the Government should forego the tax hike it gained out of the revision and provide some relief to the common man, he said.

Mr. Karat later led a rally in the city.

He said he had been told that many Muslim victims of the 2002 communal riots in the State had still not received justice. He said he had also been told that the minorities were still being viewed in the State with "suspicion." His party would try to prevail upon the UPA Government to ensure that its constitutional obligation of equality to all was fulfilled.

Reliance's reaction

A spokesperson of Reliance Industries Limited said the company had always followed all national and international laws, and had kept the Central Government informed at every stage about their dealings with foreign countries, as required by law.

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