The BJP confronted, terming it as an attempt to divert attention from VVIP helicopter payoffs leading to repeated adjournments. Government have already been allotted time for a short discussion on AgustaWestland deal on Wednesday.
With battle lines already drawn on AgustaWestland payoffs, the Congress in the upper house citing CAG report raised the issue of alleged mismanagement in Gujarat State Petroleum Corporation (GSPC) run Krishna-Godavari (KG) basin gas project from 2002 onwards during the chief ministership of incumbent PM Narendra Modi.
The BJP confronted, terming it as an attempt to divert attention from VVIP helicopter payoffs leading to repeated adjournments. Government have already been allotted time for a short discussion on AgustaWestland deal on Wednesday.
Repeated disruptions by Trinamool Congress member Sukhendu Sekhar Roy who kept asking from defence minister, Manohar Parrikar to come out with the names of beneficiaries of payoffs created pandemonium in the house.
"Who is Gandhi? Who is AP?" Roy asked, citing reports quoting from an Italian court ruling on the issue.
Finally, Chairman Hamid Ansari banished Roy from the Rajya Sabha for not letting the house function despite repeated warning during the question hour. Trinamool members walked out of the house in protest to which the Chairman responded – you are free to do whatever you decide.
Following frequent verbal duels between BJP and Congress, the house had to be adjourned four times.
Later, Jairman Ramesh of Congress said the BJP has climbed down from having no discussion on GSPC to let the Chairman take a view on it and minister of state for parliamentary affairs has agreed on it.
On being told that parliamentary affairs minister Venkaiah Naidu has said that there is no question to have a debate on GSPC, Ramesh said, "If that happens we will not allow the house to function as this would mean BJP is going back on its words."
Ramesh claimed that finance minister Arun Jaitley stated wrongly in the house that CAG report is before the Gujarat assembly PAC and thus cannot be taken up for discussion in Rajya Sabha.
"This is factually incorrect. He gave wrong information. In spite of this, Rajya Sabha has full right to discuss as KG Offshore Basin is a national asset and the union cabinet in 2002 under the then PM Vajpayee had decided to give it to the GSPC."
Ramesh claimed that GSPC have several highly questionable contracts to companies including to companies by the names Tough Drilling that was in clothing business and to Geo Global with a paid up capital of only $ 60.
"The two companies had no relation with oil and gas business but got into agreement with GSPC. It is a national issues and smacks of corruption," said Ramesh.
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