Pathak Report Rocks Parliament

A recharged BJP which was licking its wounds after the recent mole controversy saga got a shot in its arm amid and led the Opposition onslaught in Parliament over the 'leakage' of the Pathak panel report to the media ahead of its tabling in Parliament

The Pathak Inquiry Authority in its report submitted to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Thursday indicted Natwar Singh and his son Jagat for "misusing" their position for procurement of contracts in the UN Oil-for-Food programme in Iraq but gave a clean chit to the Congress.

In the Lok Sabha, the Opposition, Left parties and the RJD alleged that the report was leaked to the media.

Speaker Somnath Chatterjee allowed an impromptu discussion after Opposition members attacked the Government over the "leakage" of the report ahead of its tabling in Parliament.

Leader of the Opposition L K Advani expressed "surprise" over "leakage" of the report.

The BJP and other Opposition members have strongly contended that the Congress party, which has been named along with Natwar Singh as a non-contractual beneficiary, could not be let off the hook without strictures.