Pathak panel report,ATR may be tabled in Parliament on Monday

New Delhi, Aug 5 (UNI) The Congress today maintained that it would formulate its views and stand on the Pathak Committee Report on Volcker allegations only after the report is placed in Parliament on Monday.

The party could not possibly comment on the report as long as it has not seen it, highly placed sources said.

The sources indicated that the Government might also table the Action Taken Report along with the Pathak Committee Report in Parliament on Monday.The ATR will be cleared by the Union Cabinet before it is placed in Parliament.

Asked about the line of action on the report, which indicted former External Affairs Minister Natwar Singh for securing Iraqi oil deals but gave a clean chit to the Congress,the sources said the ATR itself would spell out the line of action.

Both, the Congress and Mr Natwar Singh had been been named as non-contractual beneficiaries in UN Oil for Food scam of Iraq in the Volcker Committee Report.

About whether the party would initiate any action against Mr Natwar Singh for misusing his position and for his observations critical of the Congress,the sources parried the question,saying"let the report come." Asked whether this issue figured at the meeting of the Congress General Secretaries,held at the official residence of Congress President Sonia Gandhi here this evening,the sources categorically said"no".The meeting only considered organisational matters, preparations in the election-going states and the likely dates and the venue of the Congress Chief Ministers Meeting to be held later this month,the sources said,adding no final decision had been taken so far about the Chief Minsters meeting which would be held outside Delhi.

Meanwhile,the Core Committee of the Congess,the highest decision making body of the party,is meeting here tonight at the Prime Minister's residence to take stock of the situation arising out of the leakage of the Pathak Committee Report. It is likely to chalk out its strategy to counter the Opposition onslaught on the leakage as also the party's stand to be taken on Mr Natwar Singh in view of his rebellious mood against the party.

UNI YS SHB KN2039