Declaring his association with Mukesh Ambani-led Reliance Industries (RIL), Rajya Sabha MP Parimal Nathwani today said the Ambani brothers' agreement provided for government approval of gas price and that RIL had not breached its terms.
"I am associated with RIL," he said, pre-empting any charge of conflict of interest, participating in a discussion in the upper house on a Calling Attention Motion on natural gas availability.
Debunking charges made by Anil Ambani, he asserted that RIL had not violated the MoU and that no injustice had been done to RNRL, which is demanding gas at a committed price of $2.34 mmBtu.
Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman K Rahman Khan noted that Nathwani, an independent MP from Jharkhand, was sticking to the ethics committee rules.
Nathwani said the MoU signed between the brothers was a private affair and there was no violation of the same by any company. It was written in the MoU that the arrangement on gas prices was subject to government approval.
"It is a question of international image. Someone puts his money and after great efforts recovers gas and meets the country's shortage... Still he is blamed of being business- driven."