New Delhi: The Ambani brothers` gas dispute
echoed in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday with some members demanding
resignation of Petroleum Minister Murli Deora, forcing
adjournment of the house.
The Samajwadi Party members, led by President Mulayam
Singh Yadav, demanded resignation of Deora over the
government`s failure to ensure supply of gas for the Dadri
Power project in Uttar Pradesh.
Grave injustice is being done to Uttar Pradesh by denying
gas to the Dadri Power plant and this in turn could cost the
national exchequer Rs 30,000 crore, Yadav contended.
Anil Ambani had yesterday hit out at the Petroleum
Ministry for colluding with elder brother Mukesh`s RIL in
blocking gas supply for its power projects despite a firm
commitment, upheld thrice by the Bombay High Court.
With SP members rushing to the Well of the House and
creating an uproar, the House witnessed two adjournments till
the lunch recess.
While Yadav or other SP members did not name the Ambani
brothers nor the fight between them, the reference to Dadri
project and resignation of the Petroleum Minister was
indication enough of their plea.
The issue was raised by Yadav soon after the House met
for Question Hour. He was highly critical of the Petroleum
Minister and demanded a statement from the government on the
issue.
Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee had yesterday called a
meeting with Deora and Law Minister Veerappa Moily after Anil
openly charged the Oil Ministry with siding with RIL to help
it renege commitments on gas supply to NTPC and his group firm
RNRL.
The Supreme Court will on September one consider
admissibility of a government petition seeking annulment of a
gas supply pact between RIL-RNRL.
SP members Reoti Raman Singh and Shailendra Kumar
demanded resignation of Deora.
When Yadav sought to raise the issue again after Question
Hour, Speaker Meira Kumar disallowed him telling the SP leader
would not get another chance.
As SP members rushed to the Well, the Speaker adjourned
the House for 15 minutes. It was similar story when the House
reassembled when Sumitra Mahajan was in the Chair. She
adjourned the House till 2:00 pm.
Bureau Report
