Saturday, December 3 2005 18:41 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Chandigarh: A day after Prime Minister Manmohan Singh advised the opposition not to 'pre-judge' Volcker report controversy, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) today (Dec 3,2005) described his reply in Parliament as 'highly unsatisfactory' and said the entire matter was getting 'murkier' by the day.

"The PM's advise to the opposition not to pre-judge the whole matter does not hold water as he himself has pre-judged the issue," senior BJP leader and Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Jaswant Singh told reporters here.

"The PM declared External Affairs Minister Natwar Singh as innocent after the Volcker declarations. Then he was made a minister without portfolio. After declaring him innocent, why was his portfolio taken away," Singh asked.

On recalling of Aniel Matherani, India's Ambassador to Croatia who gave statements in the media about Natwar Singh's allegedly receiving oil vouchers by the Saddam Hussein regime, Singh wondered as to why Matherani was recalled in the first place.

"The PM's reply did not explain under what circumstances the Indian Ambassador to Croatia was called back. The matter is looking murkier each passing day and the Government is trying to cover up the issue," he said.

About the reported backtracking of Matherani from the allegations he made in connection with Natwar Singh, Singh said, "It is strange, but he had never denied what he told a private channel."

Earlier addressing a seminar on "India's foreign policy and National security" here, Singh cautioned that the country should not become locked in the strategic planning of the USA while building relations with it.