New Delhi, Feb 20 (IANS) Congress leaders Friday targeted Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over his remarks that hinted at espionage in the ministry allegedly having taken place during the UPA regime and demanded an apology from him.
Party leader Manish Tewari demanded a Supreme Court-monitored investigation into the petroleum ministry document leakage case that had Thursday caused reverberations in the political and corporate circles.
Delhi Police Thursday arrested five people -- two ministry employees and three others -- for stealing documents and leaking them to corporate houses. Police Friday said a former journalist with an energy consultant has also been arrested in the case.
Tewari said Pradhan was "very quick" to blame the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government and "claim that all this was going on during the UPA time".
"If he (Pradhan) has categorical information, put it out in public space or withdraw and publicly apologise for the irresponsible statement. It would also raise the question if the minister was concealing more than revealing," Tewari told IANS.
Tewari, a former union minister, said "self-serving explanations" were being trotted out.
"The matter needs full investigation under supervision of the highest court of the land," Tewari said.
He said the government should come out with the names of those who had allegedly benefited from the leaked information.
Senior Congress leader P.C. Chacko said Pradhan had stated that the leakage of documents was taking place during the UPA years.
"What is the proof? The offices (of the ministry) were opened at midnight and papers leaked. He (Pradhan) cannot absolve himself of the responsibility," Chacko said.
Pradhan had Thursday suggested that malpractices in the ministry were taking place during the UPA government.
"Everyone knows what was practised in the previous (government). The new government is taking precautions," he had said.
Which sanctions did Bangladesh now request America to remove?
Bangladesh Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momin has written a letter to the US Secretary of State, urg
Mumbai Indians will take on Punjab Kings on Wednesday, April 13 at the Maharashtra Cricket Associ
South Africa will not choke: De Villiers
Sydney, March 17 (IANS) South Africa skipper AB De Villiers on Tuesday said they are not going
The US-led NATO, which assures Ukraine of security, is still engaged in diplomatic efforts. Meanw
Big relief to Imran Khan, High Court stays arrest till August 25
Islamabad High Court has given great relief to former Prime Minister of Pakistan Imran Khan. The
Modi wants Foreign Firms to be India's Partners
Bengaluru, Feb 18 (IANS) Foreign firms must turn into strategic partners from being merely sell
Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday said how the 'Mukhyamantri Gantri Ghar Ghar Ration Yoj
Pre-monsoon rains are continuing in many states of the country, while in some states, the possibi
Recently, cricketer Virat Kohli claimed that the post got liked automatically on Instagram. Now a
Do you know how to draw cartoons? Or you make memes too. You have a good video or a special messa
