New Delhi: As the Ambani brothers tussle over the price of gas, now 30 MPs belonging to the Left parties have written to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to ensure that a "national asset" such as the natural gas reserves including the gas of KG Basin is not appropriated as "family property".
"Gas is a national asset and the interests of the economy cannot be held hostage to the benevolence and mercy of some private players," said the letter.
"The pricing of gas should be based on rational and a transparent formulation. The government is urged to take over the distribution and marketing right of the KG basin gas," it said.
On Friday, hitting back at industrialist Anil Ambani for his criticism of Petroleum Ministry over the issue, Law Minister Veerappa Moily on Friday said the government is fully behind Oil Minister Murli Deora and will not make any compromise on its right over national resources.
"It is uncharitable for some people to have made such comments about Deora or any other person. Government is one on this," Moily said emerging from a meeting with Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee on the Ambani gas dispute.
Moily's sharp reaction came within days of Anil Ambani hitting out at Petroleum Ministry alleging that it was colluding with elder brother Mukesh Ambani-led RIL in its design to make super profit of Rs 50,000 crore.