Come clear on govt's ties with Reliance: BJP to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh

NEW DELHI: BJP today asked Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to come clear on India Against Corruption's charge about his government's ties with Reliance and the reasons behind S Jaipal Reddy's removal from the Petroleum Ministry.

Senior BJP leader Jaswant Singh issued a statement even as Kejriwal and his IAC colleagues were holding their press conference. Interestingly, Singh raised virtually the same questions- on change of Reddy's portfolio and the alleged role of Reliance Industries in it- which were flagged by Kejriwal.

"Why has the minister in the ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas been changed? Is it any malfunction in the ministry that has persuaded Manmohan Singh to effect this change? Or is it that Jaipal Reddy was not found as a 'convenient minister' or is this yet another example of corporate interests taking precedence over national good?" Singh said in his statement.

Singh maintained the change in Reddy's portfolio-he has been moved to the Science and Technology Ministry in Sunday's cabinet reshuffle- cannot be treated as "effected either for greater efficiency of the ministry or for the welfare of citizens of India or for national good".

BJP also wanted to know why after the Supreme Court gave the government full authority to fix gas prices in national interest the government took no steps.

"Which is why the PM must explain, he has a duty to, and we have a right to know," Singh said.

BJP spokesperson Rajiv Pratap Rudy said all the charges levelled by Kejriwal should be answered by the government and the Prime Minister and it should bring the facts into public domain.