Date:05/12/2005 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2005/12/05/stories/2005120506691400.htm

National

Shiv Shankar denies presence of Jagat, Sehgal

HYDERABAD : The former Union Minister, P. Shiv Shankar, who was a member of the delegation which visited Iraq in 2001, on Sunday denied the reported attribution to him that Natwar Singh's son Jagat Singh and his cousin Andaleeb Sehgal were present during the official meeting with the Iraqi authorities.

"I never saw these people anywhere during the visit and I am not even aware of their presence in Iraq. This is absolutely a lie and I am ready to appear before Pathak Commission," Mr. Shiv Shankar said here.

Denying that he confirmed the presence of Jagat Singh and Andaleeb Sehgal in their meeting with the Iraqi officials, he said the report was "baseless and totally distorted version of his interview."

He also said that there was no such deal (oil-for-food) during their interaction with the Iraqi Government. — PTI