Mukesh Ambani, not Manmohan Singh, runs India: IAC

IAC has alleged that Jaipal Reddy was removed as Petroleum Minister because he did not allow Reliance to increase gas prices

In its latest expose today, the Indian Against Corruption attacked the Mukhesh Ambani-led Reliance Indusrites, alleging that successive governments at the Centre had shown favours worth crores of rupees to the company.

IAC activist Arvind Kejriwal said the UPA government had extended several undue benefits to RIL. Alleging that the government gave away oil blocks to the business giant at cheaper rates, Kejriwal said that Jaipal Reddy and Mani Shankar Aiyar were shunted out of Petroleum Mnistry because they were resisting RIL's "dadagiri".

Kerjriwal said: "In 2006, Mani Shankar Iyer was removed and Murli Deora was brought in to increase RIL capex from $2.39 billion to $8.8 billion and to increase gas price from $2.34 per mmBTU to $4.2 per mmBTU. It seems Mukhesh Ambani runs the government, not Manmohan Singh. Both the Congress and the BJP are in Ambani's pocket."

 

IAC also alleged that Reddy was removed as Petroleum Minister in the Cabinet reshuffle on Sunday because he did not allow Reliance to increase gas prices. It said Veerappa Moily has been brought in "to condone RIL’s blackmailing of reducing gas production".

He said that if RIL's demand of increasing the gas price to $14.2 is accepted, it would lead to the shutdown of several gas-based power plants and increase in power and fertiliser prices. It would also result in Rs 43,000 crore of additional benefits to RIL.

Accusing RIL of hoarding gas, Kejriwal said that former Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee extended an undue benefit of Rs 8,000 cr to Reliance Industries. According to the anti-corruption activist, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh did not pay heed to the fall in gas output from the oil blocks given to Reliance Industries.Kejriwal said the BJP signed a sweet deal with RIL in 2000, which Congress faithfully implemented.

Demanding the cancellation of the KG-D6 contract, IAC also played an audio tape in which Ranjan Bhattacharya  (Vajpayee’s son-in-law) is heard telling lobbyist Nira Radia tapes that Mukesh Ambani told him –“Congress to ab apni dukaan hai.”