The Hindu : No plan to quit, says Ram Naik

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Aug 06, 2002

Front Page

Front Page

No plan to quit, says Ram Naik

By Sushma Ramachandran

NEW DELHI Aug. 5. The Petroleum Minister, Ram Naik today rejected demands for his resignation, even while giving an assurance there will be no ``discontinuance'' in supplies of petroleum products like petrol, diesel, kerosene and LPG though over 3000 dealerships will have to be closed with immediate effect. He said the modalities for auctioning off the oil dealerships allotted after January 2000 will be finalised shortly.

Clearly anticipating a spate of law suits by the present allottees, he said the Law Ministry will be consulted, but said the decision would definitely be implemented. The cancelled allotments include 1134 petrol retail outlets, 1788 LPG distributorships and 236 kerosene dealerships.

Addressing a press conference, Mr. Naik denied any wrongdoing in the allotment of petrol pumps to relatives of the ruling party members. ``Not a single allotment was done from the Petroleum Ministry or by me as Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas'', he said, adding that the procedure followed was upheld by rulings of the Gujarat and Aurangabad High Courts. He refuted allegations that petrol pumps were only given to people belonging to the Bharatiya Janata Party. ``Even Congress and RJD people got them'', he said. If the entire list is available, it would be seen that it was not confined to people from one party. Besides, he insisted, that all procedures had been followed and the decisions were taken by the Dealer Selection Boards, which have now been wound up following the dismantling of the administered pricing mechanism in the oil sector. Mr. Naik was evasive, however, about the reasons for removal of 19 retired judges heading the DSBs some time ago. ``There were some issues'', he said, while declining to elaborate further.

Asked as to why the dealerships were being cancelled if there was no mala fide involved in the allotment, he said this was to dispel the impression created by media reports about this issue. ``It is to allay apprehensions, that the decision has been taken'', he said, while noting that this is a ``sensitive government''.

On the petrol pumps scam during the Congress regime, when Capt. Satish Sharma was Petroleum Minister, he said those allotments were personally made by the Minister. But now there is no such discretionary quota. ``Not a single petrol pump or agency has been given in the last two and a half years from this quota,'' he said.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Front Page

Stories in this Section

PM cancels all allotments made after Jan. 2000

No plan to quit, says Ram Naik

Sonia, Cong. CMs meet PM on drought relief

Hurriyat's yes for talks, no to elections

Haryana IG spotted at party?

SC stays HC ban on gutka

Actress fails to appear

SC notices on Ayodhya case

Pak. school attacked