My son is targeted by "higher ups," Natwar tells PM

New Delhi, June 8 (UNI) In a move that could embarrass the UPA government, senior Congress leader and former Foreign Minister K Natwar Singh has written to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh alleging that "higher ups in the government are trying to fix his son Jagat Singh" in the context of the Volcker Committee report.

The Volcker report on corrupt oil-for-food programme in Iraq during Saddam Hussein's regime in 2001 named Mr Singh as one of the beneficiaries of the scam, leading to his resignation from the Manmohan Singh government in november. As part of the investigation by the Enforcement Directorate (ED), to which the case was entrusted, Mr Natwar Singh and his son have been interrogated .

In an interview to the television channel CNN-IBN, he said his letter to the Prime Minister was very clear and it was now for him to act on it.

Mr Singh, a diplomat-turned-politician, said the letter was written on June 7.

"A well known television channel had a programme on the Volcker report on the basis of documents given to it by the Enforcement directorate. The helpless ED officers are telling people that they have instructions from 'higher ups' to involve my son Jagat by hook or by crook. These higher ups have gone so far as to tell the ED that if Jagat cannot be booked under FEMA, the ED should find a way to put a money laundering case against him," he said in the letter.

Asked to identify the "higher ups," he said "this is for you to find out . Ask the Prime Minister, ask the Finance Minister. May be they will give you the answer.

When the interviewer asked if he felt that a section of his own Congress party was targeting him, Mr Singh said "I will not name individuals. But it is obvious that someone is involved....I am not a criminal neither is my son. But yes, I do feel targeted. This is part of an international conspiracy which one day will be exposed." Asked if he had spoken to Congress President Sonia Gandhi on his apprehensions, Mr Singh said "Please don't drag her name into this.

I am not the kind of person who will engage in a campaign against the party of which I have been a member for 22 years and a family who I have known for even longer than that." Referring to the Justice R S Pathak Authority appointed to inquire into the involvement of individuals and companies in India in the oil-for-food scam, he said he was "running out of patience" with the commission.

Emphasising that the commission, which was appointed four months ago, should not be given any more extension, he said : "I am a 75 year old man, I don't have time on my side. The inquiry must end as soon as possible and all I want is my name to be cleared." The Pathak Inquiry authority was appointed with a brief to submit report within three months. It was recently given extension for another three months, a government action which saw angry outbursts from Natwar Singh.

On the documents that clearly show bank transactions taking place, the former External Affairs Minister said they should show him one place where there is a signature of me or my son on any document.

"You say Colbar associate is linked to Jagat. Can anyone prove this?" he asked.

"Let the ED prove that my son or I have received any money. They do not have a shred of evidence," he added.

To a question if he would return to the Manmohan Singh cabinet, Mr Singh said "...that is for the future, and that is for me to decide.

For now, all I want is my name to be cleared as soon as possible." UNI SH VD BST1941