Moily defends Deora on Ambani gas dispute

Hitting back at industrialist Anil Ambani for his criticism of Petroleum Ministry, 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.

Amidst reports that government could dilute Petroleum Ministry's petition in the Supreme Court to assert its rights on pricing of gas and seeking to declare the Ambani family MoU null and void, he said there would be no compromise on government's rights.

"It is the Government petition that has been filed in the Supreme Court. We are fully behind the Petroleum Ministry in protecting the interest of the government," he said.

Mukherjee has convened a meeting, the second during the week, with law and oil ministers, officials and government counsel on the subject.

The first meeting was convened within hours of Anil's address to his group company RNRL's shareholders where he had accused Petroleum Ministry of siding with RIL particularly after the changes at the helms in 2006. Deora had taken charge in early 2006.