New Delhi, Oct 29 (ANI): Activist-turned-politician Arvind Kejriwal on Monday sought an explanation from the central government as to why S Jaipal Reddy was shifted from the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas.
"Jaipal Reddy is considered to be an honest minister and was removed. Salman Khurshid is charged with corruption and he has been promoted. So, the government is conveying a message that if a person indulges in corruption, he has better chances of being promoted in this government," Kejriwal said.
"I would ask Prime Minister Manmohan Singh what is the illegal work that Reliance is trying to get done. Because now, would Mr. Moily (Veerappa Moily) fall to that pressure, and why has Jaipal Reddy been removed, I think, the prime minister should reply to the country," he added
Reddy, who was shifted to the Ministry of Science and Technology, is reportedly deeply upset by his transfer, and did not come to handover charge to new Petroleum Minister Veerappa Moily.
R.P.N. Singh, who has been shifted from the petroleum ministry to the home ministry in Sunday's cabinet reshuffle, welcomed Moily, who was among the first ones to report to their new offices this morning.
Before his transfer out of the petroleum ministry, Reddy had been accused of being indecisive and almost halting oil and gas exploration.
His transfer to the science and technology ministry is seen as a demotion. Reports have appeared that he was transferred for his run-in with Reliance Industries, which is owned by Mukesh Ambani.
Reddy refused to comment on his transfer, but his supporters said his options are limited.
Reddy took over as the Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister last year, replacing Murli Deora.
He took on Reliance on multiple fronts over its DG gas fields in the Krishna Godavari (KG) basin. Once India's second-biggest producer of natural gas, the DG fields have been under-performing.
The Reliance-led consortium has said the problems are related to geological complexities, but Reddy had asked arbitrators to look at the matter. (ANI)