Press Statement issued by BJP President Shri Rajnath Singh at Rourkela (Orissa) : April 08, 2006

Today is the third day of the Bharat Suraksha Yatra. Tonight, the Yatra will leave Orissa and enter Chattisgarh, I would like to take this opportunity to thank the people of Orissa for braving the hot weather and according the Yatra a tremendous and memorable reception throughout the state.

The Enforcement Directorate investigations into the Indian links in the international Oil for Food scandal has taken a dramatic turn. There are credible reports to indicate that the ED has unearthed at least two letters written by former External Affairs Minister Shri K. Natwar Singh to former Iraqi Foreign Minister Tariq Aziz.

The letters indicate that Shri Singh introduced Shri Andalceb Sehgal, who has been named as a "non-contractual beneficiary" in the UN sponsored Volcker Report, to the Iraqi authorities.

Second, that Shri Singh drew the attention of the Iraqi authorities to the "historic links" between the Congress Party and the Baath Party in Iraq.

These letters form crucial links in the Oil for Food scandal. They suggest that Shri Singh may not have been acting in his individual capacity but as a representative of the Congress Party. The Congress Party was also named as a "non-contractual beneficiary" by the Volcker Report.

It is my belief that the Oil for Food case has taken such a turn that the scarch for the truth cannot be confined to mere departmental investigations. The BJP demands that the case be immediately handed over to the highest investigating agency which is empowered to conduct the inquiry at an international level. The Pathak inquiry committee lacks the requisite authority to conduct such a wide-ranging investigation.

At a political level, the top Congress leadership must explain to the people its role in the Oil for Food programme. The charge that a premier political party allowed foreign money to influence its stand on crucial foreign policy decisions is too scrious to be brushed away. The Congress President, who also headed the party during the time the oil coupons were allegedly issued, owes an explanation to the country.

A similar charge of being influenced by foreign money was levelled last year in the Mitrokhin Archieve, based on documents in the possession of the British Government. At that time, the BJP has pressed on the Government of India to put diplomatic pressure on the British Government to release all the information pertaining to India

At a time when national security is under threat from various quarters, the country needs to know whether political decisions are taken on the strength of national interests or for collateral considerations.