PMO asks OilMin's comments on issues raised by Anil Ambani

New Delhi, July 22 (PTI) Amid a legal battle on gas
supply between Mukesh and Anil Ambani groups, Prime Minister's
Office (PMO) has sought comments from Petroleum Ministry on
allegations by the younger Ambani that it was siding with the
other side.

In a communication sent earlier this week, PMO has asked
the Petroleum Ministry for comments on issues raised by Anil
in a letter, wherein the industrialist urged Prime Minister
Manmohan Singh to direct the ministry to "cease from overtly
and covertly attempting to intervene in our commercial dispute
with RIL".

Anil's letter was first reported on Monday, three days
after the Petroleum Ministry moved the Supreme Court seeking
annulment of a Memorandum of Understanding between Mukesh-led
Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL) and Anil group firm Reliance
Natural Resources Ltd (RNRL).

"We have recently seen a spate of unfortunate public
utterances with unusual frequency, by various functionaries in
the Petroleum Ministry... in a manner not witnessed in any
other part of the government that too on a matter that is
sub-judice in the Hon'ble Supreme Court," Anil's letter said.

The Petroleum Ministry, in its petition, had also sought
a stay on the June 15 Bombay High Court decision that directed
RIL to supply gas to RNRL at USD 2.34 per mmBtu, a price that
is 44 per cent less than the government-prescribed rate.

The Supreme Court of India will hear on September one
admissibility of the petition, along with the cross petitions
filed by the two brothers challenging the High Court decision.
PTI BJ