‘Can’t BJP, RSS people own petrol pumps like the rest?’

They issue advertisements, call for interviews and issue allotments on the basis of merit. This is the procedure that has been followed—the board only allots the pumps and agencies to those who fulfil the conditions.

There’s the allegation that only family members of BJP and RSS leaders have got the allotments. The board members don’t know whether those who are applying are from the RSS or the BJP. Besides, if the allotment is made according to the rules, why can’t family members of BJP and RSS leaders own a gas agency or a petrol pump of their own? Don’t they have a right to a business too?

Nothing but pure politics lies behind the criticism. Look who’s making the most noise in Parliament—Laloo Prasad Yadav! In fact, after the Supreme Court guidelines passed in the Satish Sharma case, the Petroleum Ministry has followed the guidelines in allotment of petrol pumps. The uproars, then, is solely motivated by politics.

Thousands of people have got the allotment.

Why then have you targetted a chosen 80-100 people? They have a right to run an agency or a petrol pump too. There’s nothing in the Constitution or the law books that holds them back.