Thursday, Jun 19, 2003
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By Alok Mukherjee
The allegations against Mr. Tripathy, a Biju Janata Dal nominee in the Union Council of Ministers, have come from the Rourkela-based Indian National Metalworkers' Federation (INMF) which has given Mr. Vajpayee what it says is a copy of the fax message sent by the Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) to companies in Germany and Austria, suggesting that they work on their Governments to invite Mr. Tripathy. ``This refers to our telecon. As discussed, please arrange to send an invitation letter to our hon'ble Minister of Steel, Mr. Braja Kishore Tripathy from your Government's side...The team comprising the delegates from the Ministry of Steel and Steel Authority of India Limited will be as under...'' the fax message said. It has been signed by a director-level officer of SAIL and the visit was scheduled for October 2001. In its communication to the Prime Minister, the INMF claimed that apart from lowering the dignity and self-respect ``of our great motherland,'' the fax was addressed to companies which were prospective bidders for the modernisation of the ERW Pipe Plant of the Rourkela Steel Plant. The INMF has also alleged that Mr. Tripathy visited Ukraine in the company of a private contractor whose firm had been awarded a job for rebuilding of battery No. 1 of coke ovens of the Rourkela Steel Plant. The contract was for Rs. 150 crores, it claimed. SAIL officials pleaded no knowledge when contacted. Sources, on condition of anonymity, said that ``we have to follow instructions from the Ministry.'' Apparently, there was a Prime Ministerial directive against foreign tours when the Steel Minister wanted to visit Germany and Austria and, therefore, a Government invitation from these countries was being solicited.
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