Natwar finally has the floor in RS on the OfF Scam

New Delhi, Aug 14: Suspended Congressman and former External Affairs Minister Natwar Singh -- whose alleged involvement in the Iraqi Oil-for-Food Programme kept Parliament simmering over the past 10 days and more -- today finally had his say in the Rajya Sabha.

Denied the platform so far, the former Minister at last was granted ''Special Permission'' by House Chairman Bhairon Singh Shekhawat to make a ''personal explanation'' regarding his involvement -- or otherwise -- in the Iraqi OfF Programme that has shaken the Indian political firmament no end.

Indicted by the R S Pathak Authority which probed the involvement of Indian political entities and individuals in the Iraqi OfF scam, Mr Natwar Singh had cried himself hoarse pleading innocence over the past week -- but his application in this regard had lain pending a decision by the Rajya Sabha Chairman.

So finally today, immediately following the onset of Zero Hour, the former Minister made an impassioned appeal to his Rajya Sabha colleagues to help him clear his besmirched name.

Speaking in a firm voice -- though surcharged with emotions, Mr Natwar Singh recounted the Iraqi OfF Programme history -- his own trip to Baghdad leading a Congress Party delegation in January 2001 during which ''no discussion or talk took place with any Iraqi authority with regard to the Oil for Food Programme, oil contracts, vouchers, bank accounts etc.... .

On his return home, Mr Natwar Singh said, he had briefed ''the Congress President about the discussions in Baghdad. ''Nothing at all was concealed from her or held back,'' the former Minister said emphatically. He then went on about the complaints about ''the misuse'' of the Iraqi OfF Programme and the subsequent probe by the Volcker Independent Inquiry Committee which had named Mr Natwar Singh and the Congress Party as ''non-contractual beneficiaries''.

The Volcker Committee, he went on to observe, had suffered several lacunae -- including failure to follow ''due process'' and cite evidence or documentation to substantiate allegation.

''It is not surprising, therefore, that no country in the world has taken any notice of the Volcker Report,'' Mr Natwar Singh remarked.

As regards the Pathak Authority, the former Minister said it had ''not attached my affidavit that was given to it... why then we were asked to submit Affidavits and asked to make statements to the Authority....'' Terming the Pathak Authority Report as ''a flawed document'', Mr Natwar Singh, however, averred that it was ''categorical about what matters most to me''.

''The Authority has in clear terms said that I and my son derived no financial gain from any source. We stand vindicated....'' Describing the last nine months -- since the news-break about the Volcker Committee Report -- as ''most unpleasant and disagreeable and a great strain on me and my family'', he said he -- and his family -- had ''acted with candor, courage, dignity and restraint'' throughout this period despite all odds.

''The channel to my soul and conscience is immune to the chattter and clatter of those whose links with decency, ethics and morality are non-existent....''

Contending that Justice Pathak's conclusions dealing with the contract in which he had been mentioned as the non-contractual beneficiary and the contract in which the Congress Party was mentioned -- also as non-contractual beneficiary -- were ''at best questionable'', Mr Natwar Singh stated ''with all emphasis at my command'' that ''nowhere have I signed any contract, received any voucher, signed any receipt or made any transaction with any party''.

Winding up, the former Minister enumerated the details of his personal career -- with the Indian Foreign Service and then with the Congress Party.

Besides, he pointed out that he had ''the good fortune'' to belong to ''a well-known and valiant family''.

Therefore, he contended, he had ''no reason'' to indulge in ''acts of impropriety of this nature for petty financial gains''.

''In the evening of my life'' and prepared to meet '' the Cosmic Master'' with head held high, Mr Natwar Singh wound up with the remark: ''Clean I came into the world and clean I shall depart''.

Having had his say finally, the former Minister departed the Rajya Sabha which went ahead with more business listed in the day's agenda.

UNI

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