Self-immolation bid at Deora press meet

NEW DELHI: It was high drama at the press conference of petroleum minister Murli Deora when the sister of a war hero tried self-immolation demanding restoration of a petrol pump which authorities had sealed on charges of adulteration.

All was well when Deora began addressing a scheduled media conference on his visit to China last week. As the 90-minute conference drew to an end, a women, who identified herself as Lakshmi Kumari, sister of defence personnel Harinder Singh, asked a visibly embarrassed Deora why her plea of restoring the pump has not been heeded.

When Deora pleaded that this was not the forum for raising such a personal issue, she broke down and at the end of conference, poured petrol in an apparent attempt to self-immolate. However, security personnel present there aborted the bid.


Deora said IOC had sealed the Shaheed Harinder Filling Station at Jattari, Agra, allotted to the father of Harinder Singh under defence quota, on finding adulteration in fuel sold on January 27 and April 26 this year. Kumari had, against the rules, leased out the pump to one H P Singh and according to her, it was he who had committed irregularities in connivance of local IOC officials.

Deora said after receiving complaints, he had referred the matter to the CBI for investigation and strict action and inquiry be initiated against the IOC officer. Officials said immediate restoration of the petrol pump was not possible due to complainant’s own complicity in adulteration and benami operation.

A CBI investigation has been ordered to unravel the “nefarious nexus between company officers and private persons in taking over benami operations of petrol pumps allotted under Defence Quota,” the officials said.

It has also to be ensured that this does not become a precedent or window for unscrupulous retail operators to cover up their malpractices like adulteration and benami operation by making allegations against company officials, they said. “IOC is in the process of taking up the matter of restoration of petrol pump to its Board for a decision under directions from Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, based on the very special facts and circumstances of the case,” Deora said.