Ambani brothers' gas row has echo in LS

The gas row between the Ambani brothers had its echo in the Lok Sabha today with Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav making a strong plea for gas from Reliance at cheaper rates for state-owned National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC), a plea also being used by the Anil Ambani group.

Yadav regretted that Petroleum Minister Murli Deora has given an affidavit in the Supreme Court, saying it went against the interests of the NTPC as also against the assurance made in the House by its leader Pranab Mukherjee.

"NTPC will be losing thousands of crores. It is a navaratna company, it is one of the good companies in the world that needs to be saved," the SP chief said at a time when a high-voltage corporate battle is being fought in the apex court.

This is the second time this year that Yadav has raised the issue in the House. On July 29, he had demanded resignation of Deora on his role in the dispute between the Ambani brothers. At that time, he had raised the issue of supply of gas to the Dadri power plant.

Anil Ambani has accused the Oil Ministry of helping his brother Mukesh, who heads the Reliance Industries Ltd to wriggle out of his commitment to supply gas to the Dadri plant being planned by him.

Speaker Meira Kumar said the government was ready for a discussion in the House and members could deliberate on the issue at length whenever it was held.

Earlier during the Question Hour, Minister of State for Petroleum Jitin Prasada had ducked questions relating to the dispute saying the "matter is subjudice".