Dubbing as "most unfortunate" the advertisement campaign against it by the Anil Dhirubhai Ambani group (ADAG), the government today hit back, saying the propaganda was unleashed on a sub-judice matter.

Countering the claims made by ADAG that the government stood to lose because of the Petroleum Ministry's connivance with Mukesh Ambani-led Reliance Industries (RIL) on the gas issue, an official statement said the Centre would earn Rs 84,000 crore from KG-D6 gas fields and not just Rs 500 crore as projected in the campaign.

Click here for Cloud Computing

Also Read   Related Stories News Now - Petroleum Ministry's claim erroneous: ADAG - ADAG's ad campaign aimed at pre-judging subjudice issues: RIL - PSU oil firms lose Rs 4 a litre on petrol sales - Indiabulls bags Rs 1,376 cr Mantralaya makeover project - Govt says it will earn $17.8 billion from D6 - DLF bags Gurgaon land for Rs 1,750 cr

Also Read   Related Stories News Now - Wall Street up on Greece, but gains seen limited - Civic polls: Saffron alliance retains Mumbai, Thane - MCX awaits trading rules in commodity options, indices - Govt to provide incentives for electronic chip manufacturing - Sure to buy French Rafale jets: Indian Air Force More

Fighting a bitter battle to get gas from RIL at a committed price of $2.34 per mBtu for RNRL, Anil Ambani group had last Monday started a front-page ad campaign in almost all the national dailies, questioning the Oil Ministry's role on the gas issue and alleging that it was going out of the way to help RIL earn a super-normal profit of Rs 50,000 crore.

Reacting to it, the government said that its statement today was "to correct the ongoing propaganda against the government in matters, some of which are subjudice".

A decision to issue the statement was taken by a group of ministers last night at a meeting that was attended by Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, Oil Minister Murli Deora, Power Minister Sushilkumar Shinde and Law Minister Veerappa Moily.

The official statement also stated that the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas was committed to protecting by all means the interests of state power utility NTPC, which the Anil Ambani group has claimed would lose Rs 30,000 crore due to the position taken by the Oil Ministry.

NTPC is embroiled in a separate legal battle with RIL for securing gas at a similar pre-committed price of $2.34 per mBtu, although the government subsequently approved $4.2 per mBtu as price for gas from KG-D6 fields.

New Ipad Application :Business Standard's all new IPad App Click here to download for free Other Stories      - Wall Street up on Greece, but gains seen limited - Civic polls: Saffron alliance retains Mumbai, Thane - MCX awaits trading rules in commodity options, indices - Govt to provide incentives for electronic chip manufacturing - Sure to buy French Rafale jets: Indian Air Force

Tags : Govt | ADAG | Anil Ambani | Reliance | Ambani gas dispute   Read Business news in  Advertisements -  Now property search gets more exciting than ever before! -  High Growth Business Opportunities in Africa - Register to explore -  Medium-sized businesses are the engines of a smarter planet. -  Office 365 for professionals and small businesses. -  Earn fuel worth Rs.2400 with Citi -  India's No. 1 Property Site. Click here to know more.. -  Diseases earlier, Saving Costs, Extending Lives. Know More.. -  Get 5% cashback on telephone bills with Citi -  Enjoy the journey as much as the destination. click to know more.. -  Exim Bank Conclave on India - Africa Project Partnership. Know more.. -  Creating Wealth made simple the SIP way. Know more.. -  Only Developer to give a guarantee on time space & rate. -  Buy Your Property with Our Triple Guarantee in India. -  Improve Patient Care & Experience. Click here to know more -  Win a Business Class Ticket to Europe..Know more.. -   Introduce a New Automotive Luxury Car.. know more