New Delhi, Aug 14: The Congress today pressed for a judicial probe into allotment of petrol pumps, LPG and kerosene dealerships, and said the spate of court cases against Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's cancellation order only confirmed the party's view that government wanted to "have the cake and eat it too".

"From the day one since the scandal cropped up, we have been demanding an inquiry by a sitting Supreme Court judge. We also suggested that cancellation of dealerships is nothing but a political gimmick as it could be challenged in court. Our apprehension came true as several petitions have been filed in various courts across the country", Congress spokesman Abhiskeh Singhvi told reporters here. This could be attributed to the "incompetence or deliberate motivated attempt by the government to have the cake and eat it too" he said and demanded immediate action on the party plea to hold an impartial inquiry on the matter.

He accused the government of inaction on Congress' demand for an inquiry by a sitting Supreme Court judge and said this led to a number of petitions in various courts against the cancellation by the government. Describing cancellation as "deliberate", Singhvi said congress has decided to launch a countrywide agitation from august 16 to "expose" BJP and its leadership with regard to large scale "illegal" allotments of pumps to its party functionaries.

The AICC has already directed its state units and district committees to mobilise public opinion in this regard, he said. Bureau Report