Small BusinessAmar seeks Congress' stance on Dadri spat
Samajwadi Party (SP) leader Amar Singh has asked the Congress to explain its position on the issue of Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group (ADAG)–initiated Dadri power project. It claimed there was a contradiction in the stand of Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee and Congress General Secretary Digvijay Singh.
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SP took up the cudgels on behalf of Anil Ambani two days ago, when party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav hinted in the Lok Sabha that state-owned National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) lost out because the government showed marked preference for Mukesh Ambani, Anil’s brother, in the ongoing gas row between the two brothers
This was the second time SP raised the matter in Lok Sabha. On July 29, Mulayam Singh regretted that Petroleum Minister Murli Deora had given an affidavit in the Supreme Court. He also demanded Deora’s resignation for his role in the dispute.
Two days ago, the SP chief said the government’s stance was against the interests of NTPC, as also against the assurance made in the House by its leader, Pranab Mukherjee.
Today, Amar Singh launched a virtual political movement against the Congress on the issue and said while Mukherjee supported the project, Digvijay Singh welcomed the Allahabad High Court"s recent decision against it. He was generally approving, however, of Murali Deora’s role in the matter.
“Digvijay Singh has said he is happy with the Allahabad High Court decision against the project, while Mukherjee said the government had decided to distribute gas to Dadri project. So, is this Digvijay Singh"s stand or that of the Congress?” Singh told a press conference.
Seeking clarification on the issue, Amar Singh said Mukherjee and Deora supported supply of gas to Dadri, but Digvijay Singh was opposed, apparently due to personal interests.
“I am not levelling any charge, but there is a perception that Digvijay Singh is a very, very close friend of Mukesh Ambani,” Amar Singh said, adding that the Congress leader had every right to be “happy and delighted” at the stalling of Asia’s largest power project.
On the accusation that he was speaking in favour of a corporate group, he said, “I am not batting for Anil Ambani. I am batting for NTPC, as it is a public undertaking and I am an elected member of the Committee on Public Undertakings.”
In reply to a question, Amar Singh said farmers of Dadri would be happy with the verdict since their dues were cleared when land was acquired by ADAG, and with prices having gone up, they stand to benefit from the decision. He described the Dadri agitation during the SP regime as a “sponsored agitation”, unlike the one at Singur in West Bengal.
He said he would not speak against the Allahabad High Court"s decision. “In Mayawati"s rule, where might is right, protection can come only from courts,” he added. He also refused to comment on whether the decision would be challenged in Supreme Court. “It is in the domain of Reliance Industries to decide future course of action,” he said.
The SP leader said the Dadri issue should not be viewed as a corporate war. “It is wrong to associate Dadri with corporate war,” he said, adding that pressure from farmers was far greater than that of any corporate house.