Paswan's wife allotted petrol pump?

By Our Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI, APRIL 6. Is the wife of Mr. Vincent George, private secretary to the Leader of the Opposition, Ms. Sonia Gandhi, the only one to be allotted a petrol pump on compassionate grounds? Apparently not. The wife of the Communications Minister, Mr. Ram Vilas Paswan, seems to have benefited similarly.

Apparently, Mr. Paswan's wife has been allotted land for a petrol pump in Vasant Kunj C Block area of South Delhi and the Indian Oil Corporation has already spent over Rs. 25 lakhs in developing the infrastructure there.

However, she is said to have refused to take possession of the petrol pump probably on the ground that it was not lucrative enough. She is pressing for allotment either on Ring Road or on any other main road of the Capital. Neither Mr. Paswan nor his wife were available for comment.

Insiders in the DDA said the Urban Development Minister, Mr. Jagmohan, and the Petroleum Minister, Mr. Ram Naik, have asked their officials to agree to Mr. Paswan's demand and expedite the matter.

It is learnt that Mr. Paswan discussed the matter with top DDA officials on March 13, the day the Tehelka tapes were made public. He apparently wanted the DDA to hasten the allotment. While the IOC agreed to the request, the DDA has so far been reluctant as this would violate all rules and regulations. Add to this the fear of being caught on the wrong foot in the eventuality of a future investigation.

In fact, it is understood that Mr. Paswan is not alone. A sizable number of the over 330 petrol pumps in the Capital have been allotted by violating several rules and regulations to influential persons. ``Only a CBI inquiry into the allotment of petrol pumps will reveal the real picture and bring out the facts,'' said a senior DDA official.

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