Tuesday, September 6 2005 14:46 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Petroleum Minister Mani Shankar Aiyar today (Sept 6, 2005) said he does not favour the exit of a 'competent' ONGC chairman Subir Raha and criticized upstream regulator V K Sibal for publicly airing his differences with Raha.

"No, I do not want him to go," he told reporters when asked to comment on Raha's reported threat to resign if the Government presses for appointment of two additional directors on the ONGC Board.

"It was immature of Raha to have suggested such a thing. I have no interest in seeing a competent man like Raha go," he said.

Aiyar was extremely critical of Directorate General of Hydrocarbons chief V K Sibal for going public on his differences with Raha.

"It is very unfortunate that the DGH vented out his differences with the CMD of ONGC through the media," he said, adding he was in receipt of a letter from Raha on the appointment of two additional directors on ONGC Board.

"Very serious and pertinent issues have been raised in the letter and I am getting it examined. I am very seriously considering the issues raised," he said.