Naik Dares Opposition To Surrender Oil Outlets

Petroleum minister Ram Naik today dared dared the Oppo-sition to surrender all petrol pump allotted to its members. Alternatively, the Opposition should request the government to cancel these allotments.

In an interview with Business Standard, Naik claimed that the campaign against the allotment of petrol pumps and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) agencies had petered out and the Opposition would not have the political courage to intensify it.

He said they (the Opposition) had failed to explain to the people how they also got so many petrol pumps and LPG agencies. He denied that the government had any role in influencing the dealer selection boards.

Naik said the government would shortly take a decision on reviewing allotments of petrol pumps, LPG agencies and kerosene depots made after 1983 when the system of selection of candidates through dealer selection boards was first introduced.

The minister said the government was devising guidelines for auctioning of these retail outlets. While formulating these guidelines, the government's social objectives would be kept in mind, he added.

The government would request the Supreme Court to bunch all petitions challenging the decision to cancel allotments and hear them together. Or else, the Supreme Court could nominate another court to decide on these cases.

On the controversy as who leaked the list to the press, he said: