In yet another day of damage control, the UPA government has firmed up its mind on a probe—headed either by a judge or a financial expert—into the alleged illegal financial transactions involving External Affairs Minister Natwar Singh in the Iraqi Oil for Food Programme as detailed by the Volcker Committee report.For the record, the party and the government are putting up a brave face. Speaking to The Indian Express Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee said: “Natwar Singh has emphatically denied any connection. If the probe establishes the charge, only then will he go.”When asked how could he continue as Minister while the probe was on, Mukherjee said: “L K Advani and Murli Manohar Joshi were chargesheeted, how could they continue?” But as Natwar Singh is lobbying hard with the Left to save his job—he got support from the CPI today with the CPM more cautious saying it “was looking into the report”—there is growing disquiet among senior Cabinet Ministers and party leaders.They are said to have raised questions over the manner in which the Congress party has been made a party to the controversy. The Indian Express had reported today how Hamdan Exports had made “illegal” payments against oil rights allotted to both Natwar Singh and the Congress party.These leaders argue that the Congress needs to find a face-saver fast given the winter session .
