Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and the Congress party on Monday came under severe attack from various quarters questioning the removal of former Oil Minister S Jaipal Reddy who has now been assigned to the Ministry of Science and Technology, considered a low-profile portfolio.
Reddy’s transfer is seen as a demotion and reports have appeared that he was transferred over his run-in with the Mukesh Ambani-owned Reliance Industries that has huge interests in the petroleum sector.
The Prime Minister’s Office seemed to be on the defensive and there was no word from the Congress party or senior leaders about Reddy’s removal.
The main opposition, BJP, demanded answers from the government over Reddy’s removal from the high-profile ministry. BJP leader
M Venkaiah Naidu said the perception was that the exercise of the Cabinet reshuffle was done under pressure from corporate groups and Reddy was a victim and an example of that.
Maintaining that Reddy was a senior leader and considered an able and honest Parliamentarian, Naidu said, “A person like him was suddenly removed and was placed in the unimportant Science and Technology Ministry. People and the media are saying this was done due to the pressure of industrial groups. The Prime Minister must explain to the people why Jaipal Reddy was suddenly removed.”