CPI leader Gurudas Dasgupta on Monday demanded the Election Commission to issue immediate directions to the Petroleum Secretary to implement its direction for freezing the hike in gas price, benefitting Mukesh Amabni-led Reliance Industries.
In a letter to the Commission, the CPI leader alleged that Petroleum Minister Veerappa Moily was deliberately delaying the implementation of the direction to withhold the hike of price of natural gas.
“Despite your orders, the Petroleum Ministry has not withdrawn the notification for the price hike, even though 20 days have passed since the orders of ECI were issued.
It is also reliably learnt that Veerappa Moily, the Petroleum Minister, has been deliberately delaying the withdrawal of the notification for increasing prices even though the officials of the Petroleum Ministry have put up the file to him more than 15 days back, by sitting on the file and not taking any decision on the same.
“Taking advantage of this, Reliance is arm-twisting the fertiliser companies to sign agreements with it based on the increased price of $8.4 per mmbtu from 1st April. The complicit government is conveniently looking the other way, even as the fertiliser companies are being brow-beaten to sign this patently illegal agreement,” said Dasupta in his letter.
Dasgupta pointed out that this dubious action of Moily was a blatant violation of the Model Code of Conduct. He also urged the Election Commission to call for the records of the Petroleum Ministry to prevent the Reliance from making any illegal gains.
“I would urge you to direct the Petroleum Secretary to issue orders withdrawing the notification for hike in prices directly without waiting for the Petroleum Minister’s approval to ensure compliance with the orders of the Election Commission,” he said.