Cong presses PM for reply on KG Basin, disrupts RS

New Delhi, May 2

Opposition Congress forced three adjournments in Rajya Sabha in the pre-noon session on Monday demanding a response from Prime Minister Narendra Modi on a report by the Comptroller and Auditor General of India pointing to anamolies in Gujarat's KG Basin gas project.

The Congress sought a discussion on the latest report of CAG listing irregularities in Gujarat State Petroleum Corporation's KG basin gas project.

While the central government said CAG reports are examined by Public Accounts Committees (PACs) of state assemblies and there was no convention to discuss those in Parliament, Deputy Chairman P J Kurien said their notice seeking a discussion was under examination of the Chairman.

This did not satisfy Congress members, who rushed into the Well of the House raising slogans "Pradhan Mantri jawab do, jawab do."

Kurien first adjourned the proceedings for 15 minutes till 11:30 am, then till noon, therafter till 12:32 pm and then till 2 pm as similar scenes were repeated when the House reassembled after the brief breaks.

No sooner were the listed papers laid, Madhusudan Mistry (Cong) sought to raise the issue of CAG slamming the handling of the Bay of Bengal KG Basin gas field project by Gujarat State Petroleum Corp (GSPC), a state government entity.

While Mistry alleged irregularities of over Rs 30,000 crore were found, Anand Sharma (Cong) said the government has been running away from a discussion on the issue.

"We want this issue to be settled... the matter has to be discussed," he said.

Modi as Gujarat Chief Minister in 2005 had announced that GSPC had struck 20 Trillion cubic feet of gas reserves in its KG basin block. But recoverable reserves have proved to just one-tenth of that and GSPC's borrowings shot up to Rs 19,716.27 crore as of March 31, 2015, according to CAG report.

Kurien said if notice were given, Chairman would examine it. He called Sukhendu Shekhar Roy to speak on his notice.

Congress members did not relent and moved into the Well shouting slogans.

Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said PAC of state assemblies go into CAG reports and Parliament does not discuss them. "This is diversionary tactics. They are trying to divert attention from AgustaWestland (helicopter) deal," he said. 

As the House resumed at 2 pm, Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said CAG report on KG basin was being discussed by the PAC in Gujarat as it was a state subject.

Congress leader Anand Sharma countered by saying issues that relate to oil and gas exploration is a subject that came under the central government.

Moreover, large sums of public money were involved, he said.

He also refuted BJP’s allegation that the issue was being used to divert attention from the chopper scam. 

‘Diversionary tactics’

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Venkaiah Naidu on Monday accused the Congress of trying to divert the attention of people from AgustaWestland scam by raising "unnecessary" issues in the House after the opposition party demanded a discussion on a CAG report on KG basin project.

"Congress party wants to divert the attention of the people from Agusta chopper scam. So they are raising unnecessary and unconcerned issues in Parliament," Naidu said outside Parliament while referring to disruptions in Rajya Sabha.

Naidu said it was a state matter and the Congress was raising the issue "at a wrong place and for the wrong reason".

"Today in the Rajya Sabha they did not allow the House to function and Rajya Sabha was adjourned repeatedly for this.

There was no reason for it," Naidu said.

He pointed out that Gujarat state petroleum corporation issue is a state subject. "CAG has given some reports on it so according to the Constitution, report will go to the Governor.

Then Governor will ask for it to be tabled in the House so it will go to the PAC. It is the law and everyone knows the rule."

Quoting the Constitution, Naidu said, "Under Article 151, the reports of CAG relating to the accounts of Centre shall be submitted to the President, then it will be laid before each House of Parliament. The rule is clear. Congress is also aware of it".

"I hope they understand this is Parliament and not state legislature. So they are making an issue at a wrong place and for a wrong reason."

He also criticised the Congress for announcing gherao of Parliament on May 6.

"They just want to divert the burning issue because they have many skeletons in the cupboard," he said.

Questioning the Congress' intention, Naidu said, "We would like to know why they are hesitating on a discussion on Agusta scam.

"They are bent upon disturbing Parliament. They have given notice for gherao of Parliament. Opposition should insist on discussion in Parliament but they want to gherao Parliament.

"People elect us to come to Parliament they want to gherao Parliament. It is a political gimmick. This is part of their misinformation campaign but the country should know the facts."

He also said there is no link between GST and AgustaWestland issue and GST is not in the cold storage. "We want GST (Bill) to be passed". — TNS/ Agencies