November 7, 2005
New Delhi
PM accepts Natwar Singh’s request
Minister of External Affairs K Natwar Singh today met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and requested to be relieved of the External Affairs portfolio. The Prime Minister has accepted his request and has written to the President that Natwar Singh will be Minister without portfolio in the Union Council ofMinisters.
November 7, 2005
New Delhi
Justice R.S. Pathak to head inquiry into matters relating to Volcker Committee Report
Mr. Justice R.S. Pathak, former Chief Justice of India and a former Judge of the International Court of Justice, The Hague, will head the Inquiry into matters relating to the Report of the Independent Inquiry Committee appointed by the Secretary-General of the United Nations to inquire into the UN Oil-for-Food programme.
The scope of the Inquiry and the Terms of Reference will be announced shortly
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November 6, 2005
New Delhi
Virendra Dayal appointed Special Envoy
In continuation of the earlier statements made by the Prime Minister on the Volcker Committee Report regarding getting to the root of the matter and establishing the truth or otherwise of the unverified references made in it, the Prime Minister has decided to appoint Shri Virendra Dayal, former Under Secretary-General, United Nations, and Chef de Cabinet of the UN Secretary-General (1982-92) and former Member of the Human Rights Commission, as a Special Envoy of the Government of India to liaise with the United Nations Organization and its Member States, to gather relevant materials including those on the unverified references in the Report regarding the involvement of Indian entities and individuals.
The Special Envoy will be granted full power and authority of the Government of India to execute the responsibilities entrusted to him. The appointment of Shri Dayal will be for an initial term of three months or until the completion of his task, whichever is earlier.
The Government is contemplating other steps as well which will be announced separately.
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November 3, 2005
Government deeply concerned about Volcker Committee report
The Government is deeply concerned about the unverified references made in the Volcker Committee report to the Congress Party and the External Affairs Minister , Shri Natwar Singh . The Volker Committee report, as it stands today , is insufficient to arrive at any adverse or definitive conclusion. Therefore , the government is determined to go to the root of the matter and establish the truth or otherwise of these references. The matter is under serious consideration of the government and a decision will be announced shortly.
October 30, 2005
New Delhi
Natwar Singh meets Prime Minister
The External Affairs Minister Shri Natwar Singh met the Prime Minister today on his return from Moscow. He categorically denied any involvement in the alleged illicit payments on oil transactions under the Oil for Food programme as stated by the UN Independent Inquiry Committee. The Prime Minister agreed that the facts mention in Table-3 of the report of the Independent Inquiry Committee are insufficient to arrive at any adverse conclusion against the External Affairs Minister and stands by him.
