New Delhi: Justice R S Pathak on Saturday brushed aside the Opposition’s allegation that former External Affairs minister K Natwar Singh was made a scapegoat and the Congress party was acquitted without being heard by him.
"Please read the report. You will understand everything. I don't want to make any comment now," he said on being asked about the Opposition’s allegation that the Congress party was given a clean chit without the probe panel issuing any notice to it.
The former Chief Justice presented his 110-page report to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Thursday indicting Natwar Singh of misusing his position for procurement of contracts in the UN oil-for-food programme in Iraq during Saddam Hussein's regime.
Asked about reports quoting Natwar Singh that he had given a letter of recommendation to Jagat Singh for admission to a British law college, Pathak said, "I don't recall. It was so long ago."
Asked whether he remembered having given any letter of introduction to anyone during that period, he said, "Generally, I don't give such letters. But, I can't be sure."
On whether he saw anything wrong in such letters being given, Justice Pathak said, "Uless you know somebody, it cannot be given. I don't give letters left and right".
Pressed further whether he knew Natwar Singh or his family, the former chief justice said, "I knew Natwar Singh. But I did not know his son".
On the possibility of Natwar requesting him for a note of introduction, Justice Pathak, said "he may have asked for the letter. But it is such a long time back. It must have been 20 years ago. I can't recall."
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