Graft vs nationalism to rule House session

Parliament will witness a fight on “corruption and nationalism” — the planks of the Congress and the BJP — when it meets by the end of this month. While the Sonia Gandhi-led party has decided to be aggressive on the “GSPC scam”, the BJP’s campaign for the Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls has already begun on the issues of Bharat Mata ki Jai, Vande Mataram and bhagwa dhwaj (saffron flag) — the agenda set by the RSS. On the other hand, key regional parties in the Hindi belt, like the SP, BSP, JD(U) and the AAP, are yet to sharpen their attack on it.

The main Opposition Congress on Friday indicated a confrontation with the government on the “scam” in the Gujarat State Petroleum Corporation as exposed by the five CAG reports since 2009. It took place when Narendra Modi was chief minister.

“We will not allow Parliament to run,” said a Congress strategist on Friday. The party has demanded a joint parliamentary committee probe in it.

It is unclear whether regional players opposing the BJP in states but taking a different line at the national level would make corruption an issue against the saffron party or attack it on its “Hindu” agenda.

On Friday, senior leader and former Union minister Jairam Ramesh asked five questions to Mr Modi on the GSPC issue while dem-anding a Supreme Court-monitored probe in it.

Mr Ramesh asked how GeoGlobal Resources Inc was selected as a partner of GSPC for the KG Basin gas block. “Why was the entire selection of GeoGlobal shrouded in secrecy without following any transparent procedure ” he asked.

“Why was GeoGlobal offered a 10 per cent free share in KG Basin Gas Block by GSPC when it had a capital stock of only $64 (Rs 3,000) Why did GSPC ink a “carried interest agreement” with GeoGlobal in March 2002 under which GSPC was required to invest all funds, including shares of GeoGlobal, and GeoGlobal was eligible for only profit without sharing any risk,” Mr Ramesh asked.