National

It was no misuse of office: Baalu

NEW DELHI: Shipping and Surface Transport Minister T.R. Baalu on Wednesday admitted that he had talked to the Petroleum Minister for allocation of gas to a company he had headed in the past, to save livelihoods of workers and protect the interests of thousands of stakeholders in the firm.

Mr. Baalu was speaking in the Rajya Sabha after All-India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) member V. Maitreyan said the Minister had misused his office to ensure supply of gas for the company owned by his sons. This was strongly objected to by Dravida Munnettra Kazhagam MPs.

Accusing the erstwhile Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance government of targeting him by cancelling the gas allocation agreement of the company with the Gas Authority of India Ltd., Mr. Baalu said he had requested the Petroleum Minister for supply of gas to save the employees and shareholders, and there was nothing wrong in this.

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