New Delhi, November 26
The Election Commission today served a notice on petroleum minister Murli Deora for his remark yesterday that the oil prices would be cut after December 24 once elections to state Assemblies were over. However, when he was asked about the notice, the minister at the Economic Editors Conference said no such notice had been served on him.
The oil minister later defended himself saying he did not make any remarks on the oil price cut “knowingly” after he was served a notice by the Election Commission, asking for an explanation.
Chief election commissioner N. Gopalaswami said the announcement of the fuel price cut after the Assembly elections amounted to a violation of the model code of conduct enforced by the commission.
The Opposition BJP approached Gopalaswami over the issue today contending that the announcement amounted to a violation of the model code of conduct.
The Congress came out to defend the oil minister. Union minister for science and technology Kapil Sibal said the oil minister’s statement was not a poll promise. And in any case no decision had been taken.
Slighting the opposition party, Sibal said the BJP wanted to politicise every issue and was ignoring the real bread and butter issues. The BJP had been asking us to cut prices but we had not taken a decision yet, he added.
“The international prices have fallen and there is an expectation that prices need to be reduced. I am also of the opinion that they should be reduced and that will happen after December 24,” Deora had said.
“I am upset over these reports. I would never do something knowingly,” Deora said defending himself.
“I have been in public life for 45 years ... I have fought nine elections (and) never been issued any notice before,” Deora said.
Asked whether he has written a letter to Congress president and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, Deora said these were things “I would not like to discuss”.
On the fuel price cut, he said, “We are trying to do our best.” Though he would not quantify the price cut, he said it was strictly a Cabinet decision.
Deora also said the statements of BJP leaders V.K. Malhotra and Arun Jaitley were
contradictory.
