A press conference called by Petroleum Minister Murli Deora to announce the new gas policy was dramatically disrupted when a woman, the sister of a war hero, attempted to kill herself.
NEW DELHI: A press conference called by Petroleum Minister Murli Deora to announce the new gas policy was dramatically disrupted when a woman, the sister of a war hero, attempted to kill herself.
Lakshmi Kumari, whose brother Harinder Singh died during the Kargil conflict, was demanding reopening of her petrol pump, which authorities had sealed on charges of adulteration.
Kumari raised the issue when the 90-minute conference was coming to an end. She said the pump was sealed arbitrarily and complained that though that she had met the minister several times, officials were apathetic to her pleas.
Later, as the minister got up to leave, Kumari poured kerosene on her body and tried to set herself on fire. Some journalists and government officials wrested the matchbox away from Kumari and tried to calm her down. She was then taken away by police.
Kumari was granted a petrol pump after her brother lost his life in Operation Parakram in Kashmir. Officials in the petroleum ministry said the Indian Oil Corporation had inspected the pump and discovered malpractices in the sale of fuel.
“A show-cause notice was issued to the retail outlet and subsequently the outlet was terminated on September 18,” an official said. “Thereafter, Kumari and her mother approached Deora and accepted that they had consented to a benami operation with one HP Singh.”
According to Kumari, Singh committed irregularities in connivance with local IOC officials.
Meanwhile, a stunned Deora said, “The matter has been referred to the Central Bureau of Investigation and the company is also probing the charges.”
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