| He has referred to his position vis-a-vis the oil navratnas as a "constitutional conundrum" wherein he is expected to be responsible for their performance while allowing them full autonomy to work. |
| The matter assumes significance since Aiyar made the statement while replying to a call attention motion in the Lok Sabha on LPG shortage in the country, while the ONGC has little to do with the matter. |
| Aiyar recovered quickly though and conceded that delay in the shutting down (routine exercise) of the Reliance oil refinery and the long duration of its shutdown, coupled with spiralling international prices, had led to the present situation. |
| He asked for a differential subsidy system for LPG wherein poorer families would have to pay less for cooking gas. "Is the subsidy on LPG justified at a time when international prices are rising? In the present situation, Mrs Mukesh Ambani is receiving as much subsidy on LPG as an ordinary housewife," he said. |
| He added that the total production shortfall for the year had been 729,000 metric tonnes, out of which half was PSU shortage and the other half was due to Reliance. "The Reliance refinery will reopen in two days and we hope to see the shortage situation improving," he said. |
| Asked about measures to check diversion of cylinders and their subsequent black marketing, Aiyar said his track record as a minister was much better than what can be said of the last regime's. "Whereas in 2003-04, our inspectors caught 4,417 cases of diversion of cylinders, in 2004-05, the number rose to 53,000." |
| He added, "However, I do not have the right to even file an FIR in such cases and with reference to the case of Mr Manjunath who died in UP while battling petrol piracy, I would like to appeal to state governments to step up and help put an end to diversions, since law and order and police machinery is in their hands." But Opposition BJP members were dissatisfied with the minister's statement and walked out in protest. |
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