Cong seeks Govt explanation

The Government, he said, must clarify as the reports appearing in the two countries were damaging as they mentioned involvement of the Indian Prime Minister8217;s Office and the ISI.

As Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pramod Mahajan tried to counter the senior member, Dasmunsi said he was not making allegations against anybody but merely wanted to ascertain the facts.

It is a vital issue and the Government couldcome forward with a statement on Monday, he said.

Mahajan said the Government had already imposed a 50 percent import duty on wheat and the matter would come up for approval in the House.

The Finance Minister will reply to the points raised by members, Mahajan said.

Dasmunsi said he had mentioned about sugar import in his notice to the chair and the Government should also talk on it.

As Mahajan kept quiet on the issue and Speaker G M C Balayogi repeatedly tried to persuade the member to resume his seat, Home Minister L K Advani assured the House that the Finance Minister would reply to all the queries raised.

Dasmunsi said he had written two letters to Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee about the deal but the latter had merely acknowledged his letters.

He also recalled that Kalyan Singh, as the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, had led a delegation to the PM protesting the import these commodities and Kalyan had told him that this would adversely affect the farmers.