New Delhi:
BJP today asked Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to come clear on India Against Corruption's charge about his government's ties with Reliance and the reasons behind S Jaipal Reddy's removal from the Petroleum Ministry.
Senior BJP leader Jaswant Singh issued a statement even as Mr Kejriwal and his IAC colleagues were holding their press conference. Interestingly, Jaswant Singh raised the same questions- on change of Mr Reddy's portfolio and the alleged role of Reliance Industries in it- which were flagged by Arvind Kejriwal.
"Why has the minister in the ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas been changed? Is it any malfunction in the ministry that has persuaded Manmohan Singh to effect this change? Or is it that Jaipal Reddy was not found as a 'convenient minister' or is this yet another example of corporate interests taking precedence over national good?" Jaswant Singh said in his statement.
Jaswant Singh maintained the change in Reddy's portfolio- he has been moved to the Science and Technology Ministry in Sunday's cabinet reshuffle- cannot be treated as "effected either for greater efficiency of the ministry or for the welfare of citizens of India or for national good".
BJP also wanted to know why after the Supreme Court gave the government full authority to fix gas prices in national interest.
"Which is why the PM must explain, he has a duty to, and we have a right to know," he said.
BJP spokesperson Rajiv Pratap Rudy said all the charges levelled by Mr Kejriwal should be answered by the government and the Prime Minister, and it should bring the facts into public domain.