Oil-For-Food:Jaswant demands interim report of Pathak probe

New Delhi, Apr 28 (UNI) Former External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh today demanded that the UPA Government release the interim report on the findings of the Pathak Committee which inquired into the Oil for Food scam.

Talking to newspersons, Mr Singh said the Government must disclose the status of inquiry into the Volcker's report which named former External Affairs Minister Natwar Singh and Congress as non-contractual beneficiaries. He said it was noteworthy that Mr Natwar Singh had said why he was being questioned alone, leaving the other aspect that Congress party had also been named.

"It is a pertinent question, and the government must answer to t," he said. Besides it was important that the Government clarify " unambiguously what was the status of the Commission of Inquiry into the Volcker's allegations." The Opposition were informed that the Pathak Committee and Virendra Dayal Committee would unravel the truth ("Dood ka Dood, Pani ka Pani") "But we have been shown only water which is also not free of impurity," he said.

The BJP leader said that he was in fact against giving such assignments to retired people. It was distressing that the required urgency had not been accorded to the issue.

Mr Singh regretted that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh after his return from Germany, did not have time to share with the opposition the developments in Sri Lanka and Nepal but had time to give extension to the term of the Justice Pathak Committee.

It was also very disappointing, rather mockery, that the Volcker's issue which had rocked Parliament, had not been received enough urgency by Justice Pathak who was now going to the US, he said.

He said the Government must answer what had been done so far.

Mr Singh said that Mr Natwar Singh had charged that he had not received even a letter from the Justice Pathak committee constituted four months ago. What was Justice Pathak Committee doing till now?, he asked.

"What is Mr Dayal doing?" he said.

The BJP leader said it was perplexing that when India had a perfectly functional ambassador and permanent representative at UN, why it required additional hands to collect information.

UNI KAS RP ND2006