ED to submit third report to Pathak Committee

New Delhi, May 22: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) will submit its third report to the Justice Pathak Committee which is probing the Iraq oil-for-food scam, in the next few days, Finance Minister P Chidambaram announced in the Rajya Sabha today.

The Minister also said that the Committee had assured that it would not seek a further extension beyond three months.

Replying to the charges levelled by Mr Amar Singh (Samajwadi Party) during zero hour that the panel had been in existence for six months and still had not submitted its report, the Minister said the ED had so far given two reports to the Committee and a third was being prepared.

Mr Chidambaram said the Volcker Committee report was being probed by the ED and the Justice Pathak Committee and, therefore, could not be discussed in the House. Referring to the allegations about two oil vouchers, one in the name of the Congress party and the other in the name of Mr Natwar Singh and the Congress, the Minister said both were within the purview of the investigations.

Earlier the House witnessed uproar for about 20 minutes during zero hour with the Opposition demanding a statement by the government to various charges made by Mr Amar Singh.

Mr Amar Singh said the two years of the UPA government were marked by certain ''bitter truths'' like the oil-for-food scam, differences within the cabinet over the reservation issue, Rs 9,000 crore loss in sale of BALCO shares, Navy war room-leak etc.

He was joined by the entire Opposition and the UPA ally Left in demanding a statement from the government or the Ministers concerned.

Mr Chidambaram, Human Resource Development Minister Arjun Singh and former External Affairs Minister Natwar Singh were present in the House when Mr Amar Singh spoke.

The Opposition said the leaders concerned should respond to the allegations and give a statement in the House or else the allegations should construed to be true.

However, the Ministers did not respond and Chairman Bhairon Singh Shekhawat said he could not ask the government to give a statement as no prior notice had been given.

Ms Sushma Swaraj (BJP) and Mr Digvijay Singh (JD-U) said if the government could not give a statement now, it could come out with a response tomorrow or later today.

UNI