M A I N   N E W S

Natwar stays away from Rajya Sabha
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, August 8
Following repeated adjournments of the Rajya Sabha for two days over the leakage of report of Justice Pathak Authority concerning Iraqi oil-for-food scam, calm was restored in the House today during zero hour. Though the House was adjourned during Question Hour today over another controversial issue raised by AIADMK regarding certain allegations against Finance Minister P Chidambaram in a book, normalcy was restored when the House reassembled at 12 noon.

There was no mention of breach of privilege notice against the Prime Minister on the leakage of Justice Pathak report during the zero hour.

Former External Affairs Minister Natwar Singh, who has given notice of breach of privilege against the Prime Minister, was conspicuous by his absence.

Cong implicating Natwar: Mulayam

Mau (UP), August 8
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister and Samajwadi Party President Mulayam Singh Yadav on Tuesday accused the Congress of implicating former External Affairs Minister Natwar Singh in the Iraqi oil-for-food scam to “save its own skin”.

The Congress has falsely implicated Natwar Singh in the scam to “save its own skin”, he alleged while speaking at a function here after distributing cheques of unemployment allowance to youths.

“There is no evidence against Natwar Singh,” the Chief Minister, whose party has openly extended an invitation to the former to join it, alleged.

Mr Yadav also charged Mrs Gandhi with ignoring Uttar Pradesh.

The Chief Minister claimed that he had written several letters to the former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and also to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh seeking help for paying unemployment allowance to the youth, but to no avail.

Earlier, Mr Yadav distributed cheques among 25,000 unemployed youth under ‘Kanyadhan Scheme’ at a function. — PTI