New Delhi: Facing ED summons for his
alleged links with Hasan Ali Khan, Puducherry Lt Governor
Iqbal Singh on Sunday said he is ready to resign from the post if
asked to.
"I`m ready for any kind of inquiry by any authority. If
I`m asked to, I`m ready to resign from my post. But so far
there is no indication from anyone," Singh said to a news agency here.
He said, "Enforcement Directorate or any other
investigating agency has not approached me for any inquiry. If
they come, I`ll cooperate with them."
Singh has written to Home Minister P Chidambaram
admitting that he had recommended expeditious issue of
passport to Pune stud farm owner Khan but claimed he did not
know him. Khan is facing tax evasion and money laundering
charges.
Singh, who met Chidambaram on Friday, had said he had
made the recommendation for Khan at the behest of a Bihar
Congress leader.
"I have already clarified my position on my
recommendation for issuing of passport to Hasan Ali. But why
there is no investigation on other issues like where Hasan Ali
travelled to, what was he doing in foreign land and whether he
has kept any money abroad," Singh said.
"I have no relation with Hasan Ali, nor do I know him
personally. My conscience is clear. I didn`t do anything
wrong," he said.
The Lt Governor said, "I was asked for a letter, I was
given this letter. And a letter was made and given there.
Secondly, a response on it was received from I K Gujral (the
then External Affairs Minister). If there is anything more
than this in my name, as an MP if I have done anything, then I
want to know what I have done.
"Whoever wants any kind of report from me, I`m ready to
give. I have done nothing more than this," Singh said.
Singh, who met President Pratibha Patil about 10 days
back, is understood to have briefed her about his stand,
according to official sources.
The Lt Governor said that at that time no one knew
Khan`s name.
Maintaining he had kept a record of letters as a
parliamentarian, he said, "...A letter was asked in the name
of Honourable Foreign Minister and I gave it. I got a reply
from him. Further, if Foreign Minister recommends someone,
even passport office, it is their work to enquire his
address...this is the work of police, not ours," he said.
He said, "As an MP, I have given thousands of letters. I
have copies of them."
PTI
