Reliance arm-twisting Centre: Dasgupta

The CPI Lok Sabha floor leader and central secretariat member Gurudas Dasgupta decried the arm-twisting strategy of Reliance, while lamenting that the government has surrendered to the corporate designs. The CPI leader, who was here for campaigning against the government decision which provides the corporate giant $8 per unit for supplying gas from KG basin. He said that the decision will have an impact not only on the gas consumers, but also on fertilisers and power. "It will have big impact on economy as the price of fertilisers and power affects the inflationary situation", Dasgupta observed.

He tried to explain the direct link between removal of Jaipal Reddy, as petroleum minister to that of the 'arm twisting methods of Reliance' over the government. About 7000 sq kilometres were given to the Reliance for exploring the KG basin and the price was 'little more than $2' and the cabinet committee under Pranab Mukherjee recommended $4.2 per unit. "Even though the production was declining and the company could not reach target. The then minister Jaipal Reddy was removed as he slapped $ 1 lakh dollar fine for the low production", the left leader said..

He said the Reliance should have returned back 6,000 sq kms of land back to the government, but it failed. "There is no action against the violation and minister's casual answer to query is 'we shall think about it," he added.