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Mr. Speaker, Sir, I must place on record my deep and sincere appreciation of the
leadership provided in each of these major acts of legislation by our respected leader,
Shrimati Sonia Gandhi, and the Members of the National Advisory Council that she chairs.
They have done their patriotic duty by championing the cause of our people. I do sincerely
hope we in Government will rise up to the expectations of our people and renew their
confidence in our democracy. Sir, I wish to thank you once again, and the Deputy Speaker as
well as the staff and officers of the Lok Sabha Secretariat for the good work and successful
conduct of the business in this Session.
This morning some Honorable Members of the house wanted me to make a
statement on a certain interview to a TV channel by the Indian Ambassador to Croatia. I
have been informed that he has made certain statements regarding the alleged involvement
of certain individuals in the matter which is currently under inquiry by the Justice Pathak
Inquiry Authority as part of its mandate to inquire into certain transactions mentioned in
the Volcker Committee report. The same matter is also being investigated by the
enforcement Directorate. Ever since the first mention was made of the involvement of
certain Indian entities and individuals in the lraq Oil-for-Food programmed, the Government
has been firm, consistent and clear in its stand on the matter. We had said that the
references, as they are found in the Volcker Committee's Report, are unverified references.
We had said that we are determined to go to the root of the mater and establish the truth
or otherwise of these references. We stand by that position even now.