Commenting on Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's statement regarding the filling of FIR's against Union Petroleum Minister Veerappa Moily and Reliance Industries Ltd. Chairman Mukesh Ambani over gas pricing issue, External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid on Tuesday said Kejriwal is the CM and not a street politician who can point finger at anyone.
"He can only file an FIR where he has jurisdiction. An area where he does not have jurisdiction he cannot file a FIR there. If a common person wants to lodge an FIR, then he has to explain his locus standi. If the police refuse to file the FIR, then he has to approach the court," Khurshid said.
"I am little worried because of the kind of language that he is using. He starts by saying that he will send everybody to jail. He has called media corrupt. He has criticized all the industrialists and has called them corrupt. Now he is saying that he will file FIR against some union ministers.
Khurshid reminded that Kejriwal is the Chief Minister of Delhi and not a street politician who can point finger at anybody.
"I think, he should read the constitution or should appoint a good advisor for himself. He is intelligent and has a lawyer also, whom he should consult. If he doesn't find anyone then there is solicitor general and attorney general, who are lawyers of not just the government but the country also," he said.
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Meanwhile, reacting to the allegations, Moily said, "Nothing is done without expert advice. If he can give the government some money, then we will be happy to reduce prices."
In a press statement, the RIL stated: "The direction of the Delhi Government to order the registration of an FIR in relation to the decision of Union Cabinet to revise the price of gas is indeed shocking. The complaint and each of the allegations on the basis of which the Delhi Government has taken such action are completely baseless and devoid of any merit or substance whatsoever."
"We deny these irresponsible allegations and propose to resort to the available legal remedies to protect our reputation and preserve the pioneering efforts and investment made by Reliance so far. We also remain fully committed to the development of oil and gas sector in India within the parameters of law," the statement added.
Earlier today, the Delhi Government directed the Anti-Corruption Branch to register an FIR against the chairperson of Reliance Industries Limited Mukesh Ambani, union petroleum minister M Veerappa Moily, former petroleum minister Murli Deora and former director general of Hydrocarbons VK Sibal under various sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act (PCA).
Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal described the details mentioned in the complaint received by the Delhi Government as shocking, and which were an assault on India's economic sovereignty and amounted to an anti-national activity.
The decision to order a probe was taken by the Delhi Ggovernment after the perusal of a common complaint filed by eminent citizens - former Cabinet Secretary TSR Subramaniam, former Navy chief Admiral RH Tahiliani, former secretary to government of India EAS Sarma and noted Supreme Court lawyer Kamini Jaiswal.
Acting on a complaint filed by eminent citizens - former Cabinet Secretary TSR Subramaniam, former Navy chief Admiral RH Tahiliani, former secretary to government of India EAS Sarma and noted Supreme Court lawyer Kamini Jaiswal which states that gas prices in the country will be doubled from April 1 this year due to the alleged active collusion between the RIL and some ministers of the central government. In case this price hike is allowed to take place, it will make the life of common man miserable since it will have a cascading effect on transport, domestic gas and even electricity prices.
The impact of this hike in gas price would cost the country a minimum of Rs 54,500 crore every year, and in addition to this the central government allowed the RIL to make a future windfall profit of Rs 1.2 lakh crore.
Kejriwal has demanded that the central government should put its decision to hike the prices of gas in abeyance till the time the probe into the matter is completed.
