Natwar Singh made scapegoat in Oil for Food Scam: Advani

New Delhi, Aug 4 (UNI) Accusing the Government of misusing its authority to exonerate Congress Party and make former External Minister Natwar Singh the 'scapegoat' in the 'Oil-for-Food Scam,' BJP leader L K Advani today demanded immediate tabling of the Pathak Panel Report in Parliament and a statement on its leak to the media.

Amid the hue and cry over the selective leakage of the report, Mr Advani told a crowded press conference in Parliament that they would like to know whether the Pathak Authority and Enforcement Directorate had made enquiries from Congress President Sonia Gandhi.

He said that Mr Natwar Singh, his son Jagat Singh, Mr Andleeb Sehgal and Mr Aditya Khanna had all been interrogated both by the Enforcement Directorate and the Panel. ''So, we would like to know whether inquiries were also made from Ms Gandhi?'' he asked.

''In the process of telling the people that the Pathak Panel had given the Congress Party a clean chit, the government has been guilty of serious contempt of Parliament,'' Mr Advani said, adding that ''is it not a fact that when Mr Natwar Singh went to Iraq, he was armed with a letter from the Congress party President addressed to President Saddam Hussain? I demand that the letter be made public.'' Eds: here pls pick up suitably from earlier series.

UNI KAS/NB Vd RAI1652