Why was Reliance spared, asks Karat

Ahmedabad: Communist Party of India (Marxist) general secretary Prakash Karat Saturday alleged that the central government had spared the Reliance group from being probed by the Justice R S Pathak committee that was enquiring into alleged kickbacks in the Iraq oil-for-food scam.

"Despite our raising the issue in parliament on why Reliance, being the largest beneficiary in the dealings, the terms of reference of the Pathak committee doesn't include investigation against the Indian oil company," Karat told media persons in Ahmedabad.

The Pathak committee report, which was submitted to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Thursday, reportedly indicts former external affairs minister K Natwar Singh, stating that he had misused his position as the chairman of Congress party's external affairs cell during the UN programme.

Karat wondered why major political parties like the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress were silent on the role of Reliance in the oil-for-food scam as revealed by a UN report by Paul Volcker. It had named Natwar Singh and Congress party as non-contractual beneficiaries.

"I am not able to understand why Reliance's role in the deal was not probed when it was named as one of four beneficiary parties in the annexure of the Volcker Committee report," Karat asked.

"Reliance was the biggest beneficiary of the programme - it had paid more surcharge than the other 120 companies that dealt with Iraq and still no probe has been initiated to investigate its role," he charged.

However, he stated that the investigation by Pathak committee was impartial.

The CPI-(M), which along with the other Left parties supports the government from outside, had Friday said that there was "no clarity" in the corruption charges against Natwar Singh.

Karat attacked Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's government for what he described as its unwillingness to pass a resolution on the Indo-US nuclear agreement.

"The US Congress is debating India's nuclear programme and our parliament is silent on the issue. This is an issue regarding the freedom of a country's nuclear programme and the government should at least show some concern," he said.

The BJP as well as the CPI-M have been demanding a resolution in parliament to state that India's interests would not be compromised in the nuclear agreement.

Karat also alleged that there has been no progress during three years in rehabilitating the victims of the 2001 communal riots in Gujarat.

"Today also the minority community is looked upon with suspicion. Provisions of the Indian Constitution allowing equal citizen's rights for every body should be implemented in Gujarat. The centre has failed to get the job done," he said.

Meanwhile, Reliance Industries denied any wrong doing in the UN Oil-for-Food programme in Iraq.

Reacting to Karat’s demand, RIL said in a statement that it has always followed national and international laws and norms in all its dealings.