04-25-2007, 07:56 AM
<!--QuoteBegin-Mudy+Aug 23 2006, 10:35 PM-->QUOTE(Mudy @ Aug 23 2006, 10:35 PM)<!--QuoteEBegin-->I was punished because of my stance on US: Natwar<!--QuoteBegin--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Suspended Congress leader and former external affairs minister K Natwar Singh on Wednesday said <b>he has been punished by the party because of his stance on US policies</b>.
<b>"Some party leaders were unhappy with my views on the US foreign policy and that is the main reason behind my suspension,"</b> he told the rally, attended by over 30,000 people, mostly from rural areas.
<b>The former minister said India signed the nuclear deal with the US after long deliberations, but Washington made a few fundamental departures from the original text of the agreement, which was not in favour of New Delhi.</b>
<b>"I vehemently opposed the fundamental changes made in the agreement, which I feel were against the country's interest, but a few people within the Manmohan Singh government did not like my stand on the issue,"</b> he said.
<b>Natwar Singh said in recent times India has become a camp follower of the US, which was against the country's established policy.</b>
<b>"I leave the decision on my political future in the Congress entirely on Sonia Gandhi."</b>
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Oil-for-food scam: ED refuses to give Natwar more info
Pradeep Thakur
[25 Apr, 2007 l 0209 hrs ISTlTIMES NEWS NETWORK]
NEW DELHI: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has refused to part with any more documents as demanded by former foreign minister Natwar Singh related to the agencyâs Iraq oil-for-food probe saying that the papers pertained to secrets related to other entities and could hamper the investigation against companies involved in the scam.
The ED has been investigating some big Indian companies for alleged pay-offs to a Baghdad based transport company owned by Saddam Husseinâs family. About 160 Indian companies had made profits out of the oil contracts given by the Saddam regime. A majority of these companies paid surcharge (alleged bribes) through their commission agents.
Arguing before the Delhi High Court on Tuesday, where the former minister has filed a writ petition seeking direction to the investigative agency in this regard, the ED told the court that Singh was demanding all documents that it had procured from the Serious Fraud Office in UK and those obtained by Indiaâs special envoy Virendra Dayal from the UN and the Iraqi government.
ââWe have supplied all relevant documents (to Natwar Singh) relating to his case showing the receipt of oil money in various bank accounts and have asked him to respond to our show cause notice,ââ the ED counsel submitted. He added that allegations against Singh were specific, documents which were relied upon in his case were specific and the same had been provided to him yet the former minister was insisting on inspecting other documents before filing his reply. ââHe wants to make a roving enquiry,ââ the agency said.
ââThere are documents which relate to other persons and entities which we cannot share with him,ââ the ED counsel said, adding that Singhâs demands were without any basis and were intended to derail the investigation.
pradeep.thakur@timesgroup.com
<b>"Some party leaders were unhappy with my views on the US foreign policy and that is the main reason behind my suspension,"</b> he told the rally, attended by over 30,000 people, mostly from rural areas.
<b>The former minister said India signed the nuclear deal with the US after long deliberations, but Washington made a few fundamental departures from the original text of the agreement, which was not in favour of New Delhi.</b>
<b>"I vehemently opposed the fundamental changes made in the agreement, which I feel were against the country's interest, but a few people within the Manmohan Singh government did not like my stand on the issue,"</b> he said.
<b>Natwar Singh said in recent times India has become a camp follower of the US, which was against the country's established policy.</b>
<b>"I leave the decision on my political future in the Congress entirely on Sonia Gandhi."</b>
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Oil-for-food scam: ED refuses to give Natwar more info
Pradeep Thakur
[25 Apr, 2007 l 0209 hrs ISTlTIMES NEWS NETWORK]
NEW DELHI: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has refused to part with any more documents as demanded by former foreign minister Natwar Singh related to the agencyâs Iraq oil-for-food probe saying that the papers pertained to secrets related to other entities and could hamper the investigation against companies involved in the scam.
The ED has been investigating some big Indian companies for alleged pay-offs to a Baghdad based transport company owned by Saddam Husseinâs family. About 160 Indian companies had made profits out of the oil contracts given by the Saddam regime. A majority of these companies paid surcharge (alleged bribes) through their commission agents.
Arguing before the Delhi High Court on Tuesday, where the former minister has filed a writ petition seeking direction to the investigative agency in this regard, the ED told the court that Singh was demanding all documents that it had procured from the Serious Fraud Office in UK and those obtained by Indiaâs special envoy Virendra Dayal from the UN and the Iraqi government.
ââWe have supplied all relevant documents (to Natwar Singh) relating to his case showing the receipt of oil money in various bank accounts and have asked him to respond to our show cause notice,ââ the ED counsel submitted. He added that allegations against Singh were specific, documents which were relied upon in his case were specific and the same had been provided to him yet the former minister was insisting on inspecting other documents before filing his reply. ââHe wants to make a roving enquiry,ââ the agency said.
ââThere are documents which relate to other persons and entities which we cannot share with him,ââ the ED counsel said, adding that Singhâs demands were without any basis and were intended to derail the investigation.
pradeep.thakur@timesgroup.com