Jaipal Reddy wants AG sacked

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, DEC 20. The Congress leader, Mr. Jaipal Reddy, today demanded the sacking of the Attorney General, Mr. Soli Sorabjee, for committing ``grave impropriety'' by allegedly meeting and advising the financiers of the Hinduja Group's Vizag power project. Mr. Sorabjee promised them help in case of any problem from the Indian Government in connection with the project, Mr. Reddy said.

Mr. Reddy released to the media the minutes of the meeting in London.

On the strength of the ``minutes'' - obtained from undisclosed sources - he said the AG had ``compromised his position so seriously that he should not continue even for a day. I think it was absolutely improper''.

According to Mr. Reddy, the Hindujas are setting up a mega power project at Vizag district in Andhra Pradesh for which the Centre has provided counter-guarantee. He alleged that the overseas financiers of the project had certain doubts about the counter- guarantee. To protect their interest, the financiers wanted some modifications in the counter-guarantee. This could have been a circuitous exercise warranting detailed examination by the Power Ministry.

Pleading ignorance about the subsequent developments, Mr. Reddy demanded that the Government should make public all the facts about the Vizag power project.

Later in the day, Mr. Sorabjee, in a statement denied that he agreed to use his offices to influence any Minister or Ministry to pass favourable orders in favour of Hinduja National Power Corporation.

Clarifying the position, he said, ``I travelled to London on May 30, 1999 for a short summer vacation. I did not travel to London at any one's behest''. He also said that during the meeting with the solicitors of the company, ``I made it clear that I would not express any opinion regarding these matters unless the Government of India expressly authorised me to do so. This fact has been recorded in the minutes''.

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