India to punish guilty in Iraq oil scam

NEW DELHI, Nov. 29 (UPI) -- India has said it will punish anyone found guilty of corruption in the Iraq oil-for-food program.

It said the R.S. Pathak Inquiry Authority report looking into the charges of payoffs to one Indian minister and the ruling Congress party would be presented to Parliament.

"My government is committed to punishing anyone found guilty and to table the report of the R.S. Pathak Inquiry Authority in Parliament along with the Action Taken Report," Indian Finance Minister P. Chidambaram told the lower house of Parliament.

He said Pathak himself sought full powers under the relevant section of the Commission of Inquiry Act.

"Government did not place any restrictions. Justice Pathak wanted complete flexibility to have own rule and powers. It is a full-fledged commission of inquiry for all purposes," he said, while replying to a censor motion moved by the Opposition.

Chidambaram said the Volcker report was unverified with no proof or substantiation. He said a combination of factors, including the government's request backed by the Enforcement Directorate, the stature of India's Special Envoy Virendra Dayal and the comprehensive legal notice of the Congress party to the United Nations and the Volcker Committee, acknowledged by both recipients, facilitated it.

Initiating the debate, Opposition leader Lal Kishan Advani demanded the papers obtained by Dayal should be tabled in Parliament.

"Initial reaction of the Congress party and the government did not enhance the reputation of the country, which was questioned by Volcker Committee report," he said.

The motion was defeated as the Opposition could not muster a majority.
http://www.upi.com/InternationalInte...9-015404-3472r

Does coruption know no boundries....the home of Gandhi ??? The shame of it all!!!!! :rasta: