Wiki fallout: Govt asked to clarify ’06 ‘pro-US tilt’

Mar 16, 2011 |

Age Correspondent

New Delhi

The Opposition Tuesday demanded a clarification from the government in the Rajya Sabha following the publication of secret US diplomatic cables revealed by WikiLeaks referring to a “US tilt” in the Union council of ministers in 2006.

This was raised by the BJP, CPI(M), CPI and Shiv Sena in the House. In one of the cables, published by The Hindu on Tuesday, then US ambassador David C. Mulford referred to Mr Mani Shankar Aiyar being divested of the petroleum portfolio (replaced with Mr Murli Deora) as part of the government’s “determination to ensure US-India relations continue to move ahead rapidly”.
Senior BJP leader M. Venkaiah Naidu said it was a “very serious matter”, and added: “We want the government to clarify.”
Mr Aiyar told reporters on Tuesday he was not
surprised as petroleum was a “temporary charge” and he expected to be relieved of it “at the first opportunity”.
The Congress distanced itself, and party spokesman Abhishek Singhvi rejected the authenticity of the “senseless” reports.

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