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Crisis in BJP not good: PM
Says stable political parties must for democracy
Perneet Singh
Tribune News Service

Barmer, August 29
Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh today said what was happening in the BJP was not good. He also said unnecessary controversies were being kicked up over Pokhran-II and Kandahar.

In Rajasthan to inaugurate Cairn India’s Mangala oil fields, the country’s biggest oil find in over two decades, the PM told mediapersons that the infighting in the BJP is not good. “In a democracy, stability in political parties is necessary. If there is instability, it will have an impact on the country,” he said responding to queries on the crisis in the BJP.

On the row surrounding Kandahar hijacking and LK Advani’s presence in the Cabinet meeting, Singh said he could not comment on it as he was not there. Regarding the controversy sparked by former DRDO scientist K Santhanam over Pokhran-II, he said, “A wrong impression has been given by some scientists, which is needless. The then Scientific Advisor APJ Abdul Kalam has already clarified that all the tests conducted in 1998 were successful. Therefore there is no need to create misgiving on the issue.”

On Indo-Pak ties, the PM said the relations between the two sides are not conducive to hold talks at any level, adding that some elements in the neighbouring country did not want the ties to improve. “I want our relations to improve…I think border states like Punjab and Rajasthan will immensely benefit if relations improve,” he said, while responding to a query on no stoppage of Indo-Pak Thar Express at Barmer.

Talking about the drought scenario in the country, the PM admitted that the situation was “serious”.

“It has affected prices but there is enough stock of foodgrains and efforts will be made to ensure that people below poverty line are not hit,” he said. He further added that the government would increase the number of working days, if needed, under the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA).

Meanwhile, the country today took a giant leap towards energy security when the Prime Minister inaugurated Cairn India’s Mangala oil fields here. Addressing a gathering on the occasion, he said India offered a “very good climate” for foreign investment in oil and gas sector. He invited investors from across the globe to pump in funds in the sector while assuring all assistance to them. Responding to Rajasthan government’s demand for a refinery, the PM asked the Petroleum Ministry and the ONGC to re-examine the possibility of setting up a refinery in Barmer district to process the crude oil discovered by Cairn India in the state. Union Petroleum Minister Murli Deora and Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot were also present on the occasion.

Earlier, the PM reviewed the progress of work under NREGA and interacted with the labourers at Ramsar village of the district. He also inaugurated a handicrafts workshop organised by self-help groups.

Mangala oil fields inaugurated

The inauguration of Cairn India’s oil fields in Barmer will help India curtail its oil import bill, which is to the tune of $20 billion, to a large extent. Mangala’s peak production of 1.25 lakh barrels per day (bpd) will be reached in the first half of 2010. Along with two other fields - Bhagyam and Aishwarya - the aggregate peak production of Cairn India will be 1.75 lakh bpd, which is 20 per cent of India’s domestic production. The three fields are expected to save the country $1.5 billion annually as import bill over the next 10 years. It would also earn the government $30 billion through taxes, royalties and profit petroleum.