07-16-2004, 12:51 AM
Madam secular
<b>PM may axe Renuka for backing arms dealer </b>
New Delhi, July 15: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is upset and annoyed with Union Minister of State for Tourism Renuka Choudhary for lobbying on behalf of a Russian arms dealing company and might even drop her in the next reshuffle of his Council of Ministers as and when it takes place.
According to sources in the Prime Ministerâs Office, Singh had summoned Renuka and expressed his displeasure over her overt interest in defence deals. She is reported to have told the Prime Minister that she merely forwarded a request made to her. Sources said the Prime Minister was not convinced.
Renuka had shot off a letter to <b>Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee suggesting that the Army take a look at a Russian self-propelled 155 mm howitzer artillery gun which she had claimed is much better and would meet the Armyâ requirements. Problem is, the Army has already chosen the South African firm Denel to supply 90 such guns in collaboration with Indiaâs Bharat Earth Movers Limited.</b>
She is reported to have admitted writing the letter, pleading that as the daughter of a Service officer, she was concerned. <!--emo&:thumbdown--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/thumbsdownsmileyanim.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='thumbsdownsmileyanim.gif' /><!--endemo--> Renuka Choudhary had also said that she had written a letter before the elections as well asking the Army to the other artillery piece.
<b>PM may axe Renuka for backing arms dealer </b>
New Delhi, July 15: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is upset and annoyed with Union Minister of State for Tourism Renuka Choudhary for lobbying on behalf of a Russian arms dealing company and might even drop her in the next reshuffle of his Council of Ministers as and when it takes place.
According to sources in the Prime Ministerâs Office, Singh had summoned Renuka and expressed his displeasure over her overt interest in defence deals. She is reported to have told the Prime Minister that she merely forwarded a request made to her. Sources said the Prime Minister was not convinced.
Renuka had shot off a letter to <b>Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee suggesting that the Army take a look at a Russian self-propelled 155 mm howitzer artillery gun which she had claimed is much better and would meet the Armyâ requirements. Problem is, the Army has already chosen the South African firm Denel to supply 90 such guns in collaboration with Indiaâs Bharat Earth Movers Limited.</b>
She is reported to have admitted writing the letter, pleading that as the daughter of a Service officer, she was concerned. <!--emo&:thumbdown--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/thumbsdownsmileyanim.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='thumbsdownsmileyanim.gif' /><!--endemo--> Renuka Choudhary had also said that she had written a letter before the elections as well asking the Army to the other artillery piece.