Natwar asks Pathak Commission to speed up probe

New Delhi, May 1 (UNI) Former External Affairs Minister Natwar Singh today asked the Pathak Commission, set up in the wake of the Volcker controversy over the UN's oil-for-food programme in Iraq, to speed up its inquiry.

In his reply to a notice sent by the Commission on April 19 last, he also asked the Commission not to go by media reports and, instead, carry out its own independent investigations into the matter.

He also denied having written any letter in connection with the oil-for-food deal.

Citing his long and clean record as a public figure, Mr Singh said he was 75 and wanted his name cleared at the earliest.

While pointing out that his name did not figure in the Volcker report, he said the Commission should seek evidence from any media or other organisation which claims to possess ducuments showing his involvement in the matter.

UNI VN PR GC2208