Govt Under Fire for Promoting Those Facing Corruption Charges

NEW DELHI: The shifting of S Jaipal Reddy from Petroleum Ministry and elevation of Salman Khurshid kicked up a political storm with parties suspecting the government of coming under corporate pressure and accusing it of promoting those facing corruption charges.

Sharp comments came against Cabinet reshuffle from government's outside supporter Samajwadi Party, which raised questions about the elevation of Khurshid as External Affairs Minister and the continuation of a minister allegedly involved in Coal scam.

"Khurshid has been upgraded in a way and he has been made the External Affairs Minister. If a minister is accused of graft, he should be taken out. A minister who was supposed to be removed, who was directly involved in coal scam, he is still there.

"Good people should have been promoted," senior Samajwadi Party leader Ramgopal Yadav said.

Khurshid, who has denied the allegations of wrongdoing, said he would not like to comment on the issue regarding the NGO run by him and his wife because the matter is in court.

Seeking an answer from the government on Reddy's removal from the high-profile ministry, senior BJP leader M Venkaiah Naidu said the minister was a senior leader and considered an able Parliamentarian.

"A person like him was suddenly removed and was placed in unimportant Science and Technology (Ministry). People and media are saying that this was done due to the pressure of industrial groups.

"The government should give an answer about this. This is an important issue. What was the reason behind his removal," he said.

In cabinet re-jig by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Reddy was shifted from Petroleum Ministry to Science and Technology Ministry and there was speculation that he was removed due to decisions which did not go well with certain big corporates.

Reacting to media reports about Reddy, activist Arvind Kejriwal alleged that the UPA government was promoting corrupt people while throwing out honest men.

"Why did Jaipal Reddy lose his job? For resisting Reliance? So, LPG and power prices set to rise?," he tweeted.

He said Reddy, who is known to be honest has been "kicked out" while Khurshid, against whom there are allegations of bungling of funds for disabled has been "promoted".

"It appears that the government is sending out a message that whoever does more corruption, he will get promotions and if you work honestly, you will not be spared... That's UPA," he alleged.