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No evidence to support Volcker report: PM

    Patna: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Tuesday said that there was no evidence to support the "unsubstantiated references" in the Volcker Committee findings, and therefore, it was necessary for his government to order a judicial inquiry to find truth. "Some unsubstantiated references have been made. There is no evidence. Anybody can write names," he told reporters at a press conference in Patna after addressing two election rallies in Saharsa and Sitamarhi to canvas for votes for the RJD-UPA alliance ahead of the third phase of polls in Bihar, which is scheduled to take place on November 13. Apparently referring to the naming of former External Affairs Minister K Natwar Singh and Congress Party as non-contractual beneficiaries of the Iraq Oil-for-Food scam, Dr. Singh said the controversy had not hurt the image of the Congress or the UPA Government. "The attempt will be how to get to the truth of the matter. In the search for this, a judicial Commission (headed by retired Supreme Court Chief Justice R.S.Pathak) has been set up and a plenipotentiary (former UN Under Secretary-General Virendra Dayal) has been appointed", he said. Prefacing his statement saying he did not want to make any comments on the issue, Singh said "what the truth is will come out." Dr.Singh's reactions came a day after he stripped External Affairs Minister Natwar Singh of his portfolio, but alowed him to remain in the cabinet without a portfolio. Natwar Singh, who continues to maintain his innocence, today said that he too was happy that Volcker allegations were being looked into by a judicial commission. He also said that he would deliver a suo moto statement in Parliament on November 23, when the august body assembles for its month-long Winter Session.