08-06-2006, 01:43 AM
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin--><b>Natwar at war </b>
Pioneer.com
Navin Upadhyay | New Delhi
* Slaps privilege notice on PM * Plans massive Jat jalsa to flex muscle ---- Treated as an untouchable by a party which he served for more than four decades, Congress veteran Natwar Singh has decided to declared war on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and the Congress. Â
The former External Affairs Minister has moved a privilege motion against Manmohan and resolved to hold a rally in Delhi to take on his foes within the Congress.
Sources said on Saturday that Natwar Singh submitted a privilege notice on Friday night to Rajya Sabha chairman Bharion Singh Shekhawat against the Prime Minister for the "deliberate" leak of the Justice Pathak report. He has reportedly alleged that the Prime Minister's Office had leaked the report to malign his image.
It is rare for a party MP to move a privilege motion against his own Prime Minister. The development shows the extent to which Natwar Singh is willing to go in his war against his own Government. The response of the Prime Minister and the party will be keenly watched now that the veteran Jat leader has openly joined the Opposition in putting the Prime Minster in the dock.
Sources said Natwar is convinced that the PM and some Ministers are trying to make him a scapegoat in the Iraqi oil-for-food programme and if he remains mum, the Enforcement Directorate may implicate him as a beneficiary.
Incidentally, the ED has seized a car from Jagat Singh claiming it was brought from the proceeds of the Iraqi oil pay-off. Jagat Singh claims that the car does not belong to him. The ED is also believed to have recommended scrutiny of income tax returns of Natwar Singh and his son.
The Justice Pathak report indicts Natwar and his son with "misuse of position", a charge the duo has dismissed, saying Natwar did not hold any official position when he wrote three letters to introduce Andleeb Sehgal to Iraqi authorities.
Sources said that Natwar Singh has made up his mind to part ways with the Congress. The rally, which he plans to hold at the Ramlila Ground in Delhi, will see the mobilisation of Jats to show his strength. This is being seen as another step towards the launch of a new political future for the ageing leader who is being wooed by Congress' bitterest rival Samajwadi Party.
Sources said that Natwar Singh understands that it is impossible for him to return to any position in the Congress and there is no risk in taking a political gamble at this stage in his career when he has very little to lose.
Natwar is feeling emboldened by the support he has got from the Opposition. The NDA and Samajwadi Party have criticised the Pathak report's clean chit to the Congress and claimed that Natwar is being made a scapegoat. The unity displayed across partylines in Parliament, on the demand for probe of the leakage of the report, is an indication of the isolation of the Congress on crucial issue.
Sources said that soon after Natwar sent the privilege notice, a group of Oppositions MPs sent a similar notice to Rajya Sabha chairman seeking a probe by the House committee of the leakage of the report.
Incidentally, Natwar is a key member of the Left-backed Opposition's initiative to bring a resolution in Parliament on the Indo-US deal. The Opposition is also considering a privilege motion against the Prime Minister.
Meanwhile, the Congress tried to downplay the possibility of Natwar Singh walking out of the party.
"There will be no difference if anyone leaves, whether it's him or whether it's me, the party will go on like it has in the last 60 years and cannot get affected if one person joins or leaves," Minister of State for Home Sri Prakash Jaiswal said
"Nothing has been leaked by the Government, but if there has been a leak then it will be investigated. Nobody has any secrets about the Congress as the Congress has never had any secrets," he said. In a related development, CPM General Secretary Prakash Karat said the Pathak commission investigating the Volcker scandal needs to investigate the role of the Reliance oil company. The Left now intends to raise the issue in Parliament.
"The beneficiaries Natwar Singh and the Congress were to be investigated, this was the reference and terms of the Pathak committee. There were also a few more names mentioned in the report," said Karat.
<b>"There was Bhim Singh who was given a clean chit. The fourth one was an oil company that seems to have got the most benefits. Why then are there no investigations against this company?" </b>he asked.
<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Well, Bhim Singh of Panther's party who is now supporting COngress in J&K, pocketed maximum money and no investigation against them.
Natwar should clean whole 9 yard of Sonia Congress dirty laundry in Ramila Ground. It will be his greatest service to India.
Pioneer.com
Navin Upadhyay | New Delhi
* Slaps privilege notice on PM * Plans massive Jat jalsa to flex muscle ---- Treated as an untouchable by a party which he served for more than four decades, Congress veteran Natwar Singh has decided to declared war on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and the Congress. Â
The former External Affairs Minister has moved a privilege motion against Manmohan and resolved to hold a rally in Delhi to take on his foes within the Congress.
Sources said on Saturday that Natwar Singh submitted a privilege notice on Friday night to Rajya Sabha chairman Bharion Singh Shekhawat against the Prime Minister for the "deliberate" leak of the Justice Pathak report. He has reportedly alleged that the Prime Minister's Office had leaked the report to malign his image.
It is rare for a party MP to move a privilege motion against his own Prime Minister. The development shows the extent to which Natwar Singh is willing to go in his war against his own Government. The response of the Prime Minister and the party will be keenly watched now that the veteran Jat leader has openly joined the Opposition in putting the Prime Minster in the dock.
Sources said Natwar is convinced that the PM and some Ministers are trying to make him a scapegoat in the Iraqi oil-for-food programme and if he remains mum, the Enforcement Directorate may implicate him as a beneficiary.
Incidentally, the ED has seized a car from Jagat Singh claiming it was brought from the proceeds of the Iraqi oil pay-off. Jagat Singh claims that the car does not belong to him. The ED is also believed to have recommended scrutiny of income tax returns of Natwar Singh and his son.
The Justice Pathak report indicts Natwar and his son with "misuse of position", a charge the duo has dismissed, saying Natwar did not hold any official position when he wrote three letters to introduce Andleeb Sehgal to Iraqi authorities.
Sources said that Natwar Singh has made up his mind to part ways with the Congress. The rally, which he plans to hold at the Ramlila Ground in Delhi, will see the mobilisation of Jats to show his strength. This is being seen as another step towards the launch of a new political future for the ageing leader who is being wooed by Congress' bitterest rival Samajwadi Party.
Sources said that Natwar Singh understands that it is impossible for him to return to any position in the Congress and there is no risk in taking a political gamble at this stage in his career when he has very little to lose.
Natwar is feeling emboldened by the support he has got from the Opposition. The NDA and Samajwadi Party have criticised the Pathak report's clean chit to the Congress and claimed that Natwar is being made a scapegoat. The unity displayed across partylines in Parliament, on the demand for probe of the leakage of the report, is an indication of the isolation of the Congress on crucial issue.
Sources said that soon after Natwar sent the privilege notice, a group of Oppositions MPs sent a similar notice to Rajya Sabha chairman seeking a probe by the House committee of the leakage of the report.
Incidentally, Natwar is a key member of the Left-backed Opposition's initiative to bring a resolution in Parliament on the Indo-US deal. The Opposition is also considering a privilege motion against the Prime Minister.
Meanwhile, the Congress tried to downplay the possibility of Natwar Singh walking out of the party.
"There will be no difference if anyone leaves, whether it's him or whether it's me, the party will go on like it has in the last 60 years and cannot get affected if one person joins or leaves," Minister of State for Home Sri Prakash Jaiswal said
"Nothing has been leaked by the Government, but if there has been a leak then it will be investigated. Nobody has any secrets about the Congress as the Congress has never had any secrets," he said. In a related development, CPM General Secretary Prakash Karat said the Pathak commission investigating the Volcker scandal needs to investigate the role of the Reliance oil company. The Left now intends to raise the issue in Parliament.
"The beneficiaries Natwar Singh and the Congress were to be investigated, this was the reference and terms of the Pathak committee. There were also a few more names mentioned in the report," said Karat.
<b>"There was Bhim Singh who was given a clean chit. The fourth one was an oil company that seems to have got the most benefits. Why then are there no investigations against this company?" </b>he asked.
<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Well, Bhim Singh of Panther's party who is now supporting COngress in J&K, pocketed maximum money and no investigation against them.
Natwar should clean whole 9 yard of Sonia Congress dirty laundry in Ramila Ground. It will be his greatest service to India.