Natwar threatens legal action against Matherani

New Delhi: Natwar Singh has responded sharply to the allegations made by Aneil Matherani saying the latter's claims area "outrageous and malicious".

The former External Affairs Minister said that he was contemplating legal action and would consult his lawyer at the earliest.

IBN sources close to Natwar Singh suspect senior Congress leaders of encouraging the anti-Natwar campaign, as they do not want him to return to the foreign office.

However the sources added that though Natwar has no reason to quit they said the former foreign minister would go if Sonia Gandhi desired.

On Friday morning, India's Ambassador to Croatia, Aneil Matherani, said in the Parliament that Natwar Singh and his son Jagat Singh had received oil allotment from Saddam Hussein's regime in the Iraq oil-for-food programme for "personal service".

Matherani, who worked closely with Singh in the Congress' Foreign Affairs Cell before the party came to power, told the news magazine India Today that both the Congress and Natwar Singh received the oil coupons from Iraq.

Natwar Singh stated that he had read the "completely false and malicious interview" in the magazine and that since his conscience was clear, he would take legal action against Matherani.

He also added that he was ready to face any time-bound inquiry on the issue so that his name was cleared at the earliest.

"The question to ask is why did Aneil Matherani give the interview at this time. If he was so concerned about the matter, why did he not go public earlier especially since he was in Delhi when the Volcker matter came up?" Singh inquired.

Meanwhile, UPA's number one ally, the Communist Party of India has done a volte face, asking Natwar Singh to step down as Cabinet Minister in the view of the latest developments.

Party General Secretary A B Bardhan said, "A probe must be initiated and whoever is found guilty should be punished appropriately."

The CPI and CPI-M, had been strong supporters of Natwar Singh's continuance in the government until Friday's developments unfolded.

They had dubbed the controversy arising out of the Volcker report as an "imperialist" conspiracy.

Though Natwar Singh may have won himself a temporary reprieve, his future looks grim and with Matherani pointing an accusing finger at the tainted minister and the government threatening another probe, it might be difficult for Natwar to continue as Cabinet minister.