Petroleum document leak: Cong wants fair probe

Congress today targeted the government over leakage of Petroleum Ministry documents, saying it indicated that the promise of 'zero tolerance' to corruption was "hollow", and demanded fair probe to ensure that the "big fish" do not escape.

The case is indicative that government's promise of 'zero tolerance' to corruption was just a "hollow promise", party spokesman Ajoy Kumar told reporters. He said people do not want the matter to be swept under the carpet after the arrest of some low level officials.

"Congress demands a clean and a fair investigation," he said, adding "Government will be open to allegations if they don't go to the bottom of it because there is no use in catching the small fish and let the big fish escape." In reply to a question, he said Congress is in favour of a dilution of the Official Secrets Act by generally keeping the provisions related only to internal security and defence.

He recalled that the Adminstrative Reforms Commission has also made a suggestion in this regard. Turning to the Lok Pal bill, the Congress spokesman opposed a provision being brought under which the Attorney General's view has been made "binding" in any case where there is difference of opinion between the Director, CBI and Director, Prosecution.

Such a change in the law was not proper because Attorney General is a political appointee, he said.