TAKING the anti-corruption battle a step further, the irrepressible Arvind Kejriwal has ordered an FIR against Reliance, Union minister Veerappa Moily, former Oil Minister Murli Deora and a former oil regulator, V.K. Sibal, on a complaint by four distinguished citizens who have alleged underproduction from Reliance's oil well, KG-D6, and over-pricing of natural gas. Public interest is involved here since from April this year costlier gas will push up the cost of transport, electricity and fertilisers. As elections are around the corner, the Central and state governments may protect the consumers and take on the additional burden. A condescending Moily responded with the remark "I should sympathise with his (Kejriwal's) ignorance". He should realise the complaint is by persons who have served the system and know how it operates. The CAG too has pointed to losses caused to the exchequer.
One allegation is Mukesh Ambani's company had created an artificial shortage to blackmail the government to set higher prices. Reliance had agreed to supply gas to NTPC at $2.3 per mBtu for 17 years. But the price was almost doubled in 2007 when Murli Deora was the Oil Minister. After Moily became the Oil Minister last year, the government moved to market-linked gas pricing and cleared the hike, based on a report of the Rangarajan committee.
The Aam Aadmi Party has questioned the BJP silence on the issue. Both the Congress and the BJP are on the same page in opposing AAP's volatile move. There are key issues that need to be addressed. Since the Supreme Court is seized of the matter of gas pricing on a PIL petition, should the issue of criminal collusion, if any, be delinked? Can Delhi's Anti-Corruption Bureau, which is under the Centre, investigate a Union minister when even the CBI needs prior permission to proceed against a top public servant? There are suspicions in public mind about undue benefits being given to the company. A Supreme Court-monitored inquiry would have, perhaps, handled the case better.
Source Link: http://www.tribuneindia.com
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