Even Pathak report says I am innocent: Natwar

New Delhi, Aug 11: Asserting that he and his son were innocent and had been absolved by the Pathak Committee looking into the Volcker Report on oil-for-food scam, former External Affairs Minister Natwar Singh today said no illegality was committed by him or his son.

''The first thing that I want to say is that the Pathak Authority has abvolved myself and my son. There is no proof which would raise a finger at us. I am unblemished and will remain unblemished...No illegality, whether in India or internationally, was committed...At no stage did I ask for favours, neither for my son nor for my family,'' the Congress leader said.

Mr Singh, who earlier could not raise his contention in Rajya Sabha, said no evidenvce was produced in the Volcker report to justify ''why, when and who included my name and that of the Congress Party in the report submitted in October 2005.'' ''In my affidavit to the Pathak Commission I had given the details of Mr Volcker's bias against those who disapproved of US action in West Asia and elsewhere...Mr Volcker has gone on record saying that he has changed the language of his report so that no shadow was cast on UN Secretary General Kofi Annan and his son,'' he added.

Mr Natwar Singh said that during his entire stay in Baghdad, no discussion or talks took place with any Iraqi authority on oil, bank accounts, vouchers or receipts. The Congress delegation was purely a political delegation. He said that on his return, he briefed Congress President Sonia Gandhi about the substantive political discussions in Baghdad.

''Without her permission, no Congress leader can take any step...We gave her the full report,'' he said adding that neither Ms Gandhi had said anything against him nor would he say anything against her.

Training his guns on Mr Paul Volcker, Mr Singh said his (Volcker's) links with successive US Administration was no secret.

''There is no evidence against me in the Pathak authority report and my first objective was to prove my innocence... I would like to emphasise that nowhere have I signed any contract or receipt, received a voucher or committed a financial crime with any Party,'' Mr Singh said.

''Mr Volcker has said I do not know who the External Affairs Minister of India or Mr Natwar Singh is. He had not written to the Congress Party and not verified the facts which are stated in the report,'' the Congress leader claimed.

UNI

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