Pathak Authority findings are half truth: BJP

New Delhi, Aug 7: Terming the Pathak Authority's findings ''half truth'', the BJP today demanded that criminal proceedings be launched against those whose names had figured in the Volcker's expose of the Iraqi oil-for-food scam.

In its preliminary reaction, the party said the terms of reference of the Authority were restricted, which did give enough powers to Justice R K Pathak to summon witnesses from abroad or seek related documents from there.

A cursory examination of the report showed that it was a hasty conclusion in which the Congress got itself exonerated, it said.

BJP general secretary Arun Jaitley said the whole truth had not come out in the probe. In fact, Justice Pathak looked into the documents which were supplied to him by the Government and the Authority headed by him did not have the right to issue a 'Letter Rogatory' to elicit information from foreign countries.

He wondered what sort of probe was conducted into the corruption charges against two accused parties -- Natwar Singh and the Congress -- as one was left out while the other was made a scapegoat.

''Such things are unheard of where two accused have not been treated on a par,'' he added.

The Volcker expose clearly pointed out that there were two beneficiaries of oil coupons -- the Congress and Natwar Singh. But the Pathak report was completely silent on the monetary benefits and gave a clean chit to the Congress, he said.

If somebody else got penury benefits in the name of Congress then how can the ruling party could go scot-free and it must be investigated, Mr Jaitley said.

In fact, Mr Jaitley added, the Pathak Authority findings were an exercise for a 'cover-up' than unearthing the truth behind the shady coupon deals.

UNI

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