Congress suspends Jagat Singh

Jaipur: Ten days after wielding the axe against former External Affairs Minister Natwar Singh, the Congress on Friday suspended his son, Jagat Singh.

A show-cause notice has been issued against Jagat asking him to explain why he should not be expelled from the party.

Announcing the suspension, Rajasthan Congress Committee President B D Kalla said that Jagat was suspended on the charges of misconduct, indiscipline and bringing disrepute to the party.

"It is clear from the circumstances set out by the Justice R S Pathak Inquiry Authority and the conclusion by it that you are actively involved through your father in promoting the business interest of your cousin Mr Andaleeb Sehgal and that you had full knowledge of the nature of the transaction and that you used your father as Chairman, Foreign Affairs Department of AICC to help Sehgal receive favour from Iraqi authorities," Kalla said in a letter to Jagat.

"Apart from misusing your official position in the party to promote business interest of Mr Sehgal, you have also indulged in carrying out anti-party activities by criticising the party and senior leaders of the party publicly in various interviews, comments and statements, and have brought disrepute to the party," Kalla said.

The PCC chief said Jagat has been asked to explain within 14 days why he should not be removed from the party for six years.

Congress had earlier this month suspended Natwar Singh from the party and issued him a show-cause for allegedly misusing his position to get oil contracts.

The Pathak inquiry report had indicted Natwar Singh and his son Jagat for misusing their positions to favour some people close to them in procuring oil contracts from the Saddam Hussein regime in 2001.

Meanwhile, the PCC also issued a show-cause notice to Yashwant Ramu, a Congress leader of Bharatpur, who has announced the holding of a pro-Natwar rally in Jaipur on August 23, Kalla said.

"Why should not a disciplinary action be initiated against you (Ramu) for supporting and holding a proposed rally in favour of Natwar who is under suspension," Kalla asked in the notice.