Lok Sabha Debates
Regarding Volcker Committee Report. on 2 December, 2005
> Title : Regarding Volcker Committee Report.
THE PRIME MINISTER (DR. MANMOHAN SINGH): Mr. Speaker, Sir, this morning some hon. Members of the House wanted me to make a statement on a certain interview granted to a TV channel by the Indian Ambassador to Croatia. I have been informed that he has made certain statements regarding the alleged involvement of certain individuals in the matter which is currently under inquiry by the Justice Pathak Inquiry Authority as part of its mandate to inquire into certain transactions mentioned in the Volcker Committee report. The same matter is also being investigated by the Enforcement Directorate.
Ever since the first mention was made of the involvement of certain Indian entities and individuals in the Volcker Committee report as non-contractual beneficiaries in the Iraq Oil-for-Food programme, the Government has been firm, * Also placed in Library. See No. LT 2919/05 consistent and clear in its stand on the matter. We had said that the references, as they are found in the Volcker Committee’s report, are ‘unverified references’. … (Interruptions) प्रो. विजय कुमार मल्होत्रा (दक्षिण दिल्ली) : यह आज तो वेरीफाई हो गया। …( व्यवधान) अभी भी अनवेरीफाइड कह रहे हैं। …( व्यवधान) अध्यक्ष महोदय : यह सही नहीं है। यह क्या हो रहा है?
...( व्यवधान)
MR. SPEAKER : I will appeal to all the hon. leaders.
… (Interruptions)
DR. MANMOHAN SINGH : We had said that we are determined to go to the root of the matter and establish the truth or otherwise of these references. We stand by that position even now. In order to unearth the facts, we promptly appointed Mr. Justice R.S. Pathak to inquire into the two specific contracts which are of relevance and gave him full powers, in the manner he desired, to complete his inquiry speedily and effectively. We appointed Shri Virendra Dayal as a Special Envoy to gather relevant materials, and as the Finance Minister informed the House the other day, he has been doing his work most expeditiously and, in a space of 10 days, obtained important documents and material. As for the statements made today – and I am told are likely to be published in a magazine later – they certainly relate to the transactions under investigation. Statements have been made about Shri Natwar Singh and other individuals. These are all a matter of concern. The Enforcement Directorate will take cognizance of the recent statements attributed to the Indian Ambassador to Croatia and pursue the investigations. The Enforcement Directorate has assured the Government that their investigations are proceeding on the right track and they would be able to establish the facts expeditiously. We should not pre-judge the final outcome of the investigation or pre-empt the findings that may be given by the Justice R.S. Pathak Inquiry Authority. For us in the Government truth is of utmost importance. We are determined that truth must prevail in this matter. Our Government believes in maintaining high standards of probity and transparency in public life and I can assure the House that no one who is guilty will go unpunished. … (Interruptions)
SHRI GURUDAS DASGUPTA Sir, I have a point. If the hon. Leader of the Opposition makes his generous remarks in the House with regard to the statement made, then the other Parties also should be given the same opportunity. … (Interruptions) MR. SPEAKER : Let us see what happens.
… (Interruptions)
अध्यक्ष महोदय : ठीक है, अब अपने लीडर को तो बोलने दीजिए।
...( व्यवधान)
SHRI GURUDAS DASGUPTA : Sir, may I submit one thing? … (Interruptions) Please listen to me. … (Interruptions) I appeal to Shri Advaniji to yield and allow me to make my submission. … (Interruptions) I am saying that the normal practice in the House has been that the Leader of the main Opposition Party makes a remark and after that there is a din and noise and the House is compelled to adjourn. This should not be allowed. … (Interruptions) PROF. VIJAY KUMAR MALHOTRA : Sir, what is this going on? … (Interruptions)
SHRI GURUDAS DASGUPTA : It is the perversion of democracy. … (Interruptions)
SHRI ANANTH KUMAR(BANGALORE SOUTH) : Sir, how can he say like this? … (Interruptions) MR. SPEAKER : I cannot dictate to any Member what to say and what not to say.
SHRI L.K. ADVANI : He cannot dictate. … (Interruptions)
MR. SPEAKER : I can only appeal to you to observe the norms of debate, observe the norms of discussion[krr18] . What more can I say? I have called your leader. Shri Ananth Kumar and Shri Harin Pathak, please do not disturb your leader. I have called him forthwith. … (Interruptions) SHRI GURUDAS DASGUPTA : It is perversion of democracy if you do not allow us to speak. … (Interruptions) MR. SPEAKER: Let us hear him.
… (Interruptions)
SHRI GURUDAS DASGUPTA : No. You should hear all of us. … (Interruptions)
अध्यक्ष महोदय : एक-एक करके सुनेंगे।
SHRI GURUDAS DASGUPTA : They will create noise. … (Interruptions)
अध्यक्ष महोदय : फिर क्या करेंगे? I cannot stop all of them.
… (Interruptions)
SHRI ANANTH KUMAR : He should not speak like that. …( व्यवधान)
SHRI KHARABELA SWAIN What was he doing when he was in the opposition? … (Interruptions) MR. SPEAKER: I do not know why do you follow that example. अब छोड़िए, आप बैठ जाएं।
… (Interruptions)
SHRI GURUDAS DASGUPTA : I will not take lessons from him. … (Interruptions)
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. Leader of the Opposition wishes to respond to the statement.
श्री लाल कृष्ण आडवाणी : अध्यक्ष जी, आज प्रात:काल मैंने इस बात का जिक्र किया था कि इस सदन में दिन भर बहस हुई, दूसरे सदन में भी दिन भर बहस हुई, तो उसका वित्त मंत्री जी ने जवाब दिया था। विदेश मंत्री तो अब इस समय औपचारिक रूप से नहीं हैं, प्रधान मंत्री जी ने विदेश विभाग सम्भाला हुआ है, प्रधान मंत्री जी तब संसद के दोनों सदनों में नहीं बोले थे। लेकिन उसके बाद जब सदन के नेता ने आपको बताया कि प्रधान मंत्री जी दो बजे बोलेंगे, तो हम सोचते थे कि जो बातें तथ्य के रूप में आई थीं दिन भर की बहस के रूप में, उससे आगे जानकारी मिलेगी। विशेषकर इस कारण कि डेलीगेशन में गए हुए एक व्यक्ति ने वैरिफाई किया है कि ये बातें सही हैं, अनवैरिफाइड नहीं हैं। उस दिन आपने बार-बार इस बात का जिक्र किया था कि ये अनवैरिफाइड एलीगेशंस हैं।…( व्यवधान) यहां तक कि प्रधान मंत्री जी ने अभी-अभी जिक्र किया है कि एक मैगजीन में वह सब छपने वाला है। कल जो उसमें छपने वाला है, उसमें एक बात कही है कि नटवर सिंह जी कहते हैं कि मुझे पता ही नहीं था कि ऐसे मेरा नाम आ सकता है, कांग्रेस पार्टी इसी प्रकार से कहती है। उन्होंने जो शब्द प्रयोग किए हैं, डेलीगेशन में गए हुए व्यक्ति ने,.* He has alleged both. मैं प्रधान मंत्री जी से एक ही सवाल पूछना चाहता हूं कि इन्क्वायरी होने के पहले ही नटवर सिंह जी को मंत्रालय से हटा दिया गया। …( व्यवधान) SHRI PAWAN KUMAR BANSAL (CHANDIGARH): Let Shri Advani authenticate it. … (Interruptions) MR. SPEAKER: I will see to that what is not admissible.
… (Interruptions)
श्री लाल कृष्ण आडवाणी : और यह कहा गया कि जब पाठक कमेटी की रिपोर्ट आ जाएगी, उसके बाद हम फैसला करेंगे कि नटवर सिंह जी का क्या किया जाए। मैं मानता हूं कि कांग्रेस पार्टी की अध्यक्षा को भी नेता पद से हट जाना चाहिए, जब तक वह रिपोर्ट नहीं आ जाती।…( व्यवधान) वह कांग्रेस पार्टी के अध्यक्ष पद से इस्तीफा न दें, तो कम से कम यूपीए के अध्यक्ष पद से इस्तीफा दे दें, क्योंकि वह एक सरकारी पद है।…( व्यवधान) MR. SPEAKER: What is more? You have said your point.
… (Interruptions)
MR. SPEAKER: Now, Shri Gurudas Dasgupta.
… (Interruptions)
* Expunged as ordered by the Chair.
MR. SPEAKER: Hon. Members, the senior leaders are here. Let me have a say. Please sit. I am not in favour or against anybody. I am only trying to regulate the proceedings. I have no views on it. … (Interruptions)
अध्यक्ष महोदय : आप एक ही बात बोल रहे हैं।
…( व्यवधान)
SHRI ANANTH KUMAR : Shrimati Sonia Gandhi should resign. … (Interruptions) Shri Natwar Singh should be dismissed. … (Interruptions) MR. SPEAKER: I am appealing to Shri Advani and I am appealing to Shri Vajpayee. You wanted to say something. I have given you full opportunity to say. … (Interruptions)
MR. SPEAKER: You wanted the Prime Minister's statement. The Prime Minister has made a statement. Thereafter, you are not allowing anybody to speak. This is not fair. What more can I say? Shri Gurudas Dasgupta, you wanted to say something.
… (Interruptions[reporter19] ) SHRI GURUDAS DASGUPTA : Sir, please control them. … (Interruptions)
MR. SPEAKER: I do not control it. If you want to say something, then please go ahead.
… (Interruptions)
SHRI GURUDAS DASGUPTA : Sir, is this democracy? They do not want us to speak in the House. They only want to express their views. … (Interruptions) 14.15 hrs. (At this stage, Shri Avinash Rai Khanna, Dr. Rattan Singh Ajnala and some other hon. Members came and stood on the floor near the Table.) SHRI GURUDAS DASGUPTA : Sir, I want to speak, but this is happening in the House. Is this democracy? … (Interruptions) This is perversion of democracy. BJP is indulging in … (Interruptions) MR. SPEAKER: Please go back to your seats. Please sit down.
… (Interruptions)
MR. SPEAKER: What more can I ask them to do?
… (Interruptions)
MR. SPEAKER: The House stands adjourned till 3.30 p.m. 14.16 hrs. The Lok Sabha then adjourned till Thirty Minutes past Fifteen of the Clock.
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15.30 hrs. The Lok Sabha re-assembled at Thirty Minutes past Fifteen of the Clock.
(Mr. Deputy-Speaker in the Chair) प्रो. विजय कुमार मल्होत्रा (दक्षिण दिल्ली) : उपाध्यक्ष जी, प्रधानमंत्री का वक्तव्य बहुत ही निराशापूर्ण था। …( व्यवधान) प्रधानमंत्री का वक्तव्य पूरी तरह से …( व्यवधान) 15.31 hrs.