Amazing article, I hope to become a columnist like you Sir Mj Akbar. The sources and deep level of knowledge about the covert inside affairs which you seem to know about is laudable! Truly you are one of the best Indian Journalists/Editor of all time in Indian Journalism History. It's really a miracle that the Times of India even allows you to publish such articles, infact only people of your caliber can be bold enough to have such articles being published.

MJ is a brilliant author and extremely good researcher. His columns are always come packed with lot of information and knowledge, which are generally not accessible to the common masses. Energy resource is extremely precious for the development of the country. It is therefore important for one and all in the government and outside to make sure that this precious resource should be utilized optimally. I hope the concerned minister will not have any special consideration for any proposal which are not in the interest of our country.

Murli Deora is a sold man. You have rightly said that he should not have been the oil minister.

In the present and previous U.P.A. Govt.,s each Minister has his won agenda to fulfill.For instance Ms.Banerjee wants her name is remembered for ever when she introduced IZZZAT ticket for R.25/ for the entire year for people of less than Rs.1500/-per month, and introducing "All Women specials," just to show that she is no less intellegent than Mr.Lallu when he introduced "Garibi Express" trains.Mr.Kabil Sibal by introducing a bill called "The Right to Education for children" as Mr.Aurgun Singh felt that introduction of27% reservation for B.C.s will ensure his place in cabinet for the second term, but it misfired.Our P.M. Dr.Man Mohan Singh prefixed "AMM ADMI" during the last 5 years what ever stamement he gave in Parliament.You can imagine the inspiration behind it.Now, he got his hand burnt when he issued joint statement with Pak-P.M which included Baluchistan.Coming to R.I.L gas,who is bothered in the Govt., as long they get their share is assured.It is not only Gas, but also Coal,Iron ore illegal mining that goes on.Do not unnecessarity invite heart attacks by thinking about these routine matters.

Hello
This is a masterpiece.
National interest? What is that animal?
Certainly there are issues which do not meet the eye.Somebody tells me that he is only "a... master's Voice" If it is so no one can help.Whither India?

Is there anyone who can save this country from the clutches of Murli Deoras of Congress led UPA government?
Dear MJ Akbars!!!
Articles like yours have come and gone... but brazen audacity of Deoras have prevailed forever....

You have stated too much in the bonding of Minister Deora & Late Dhirubhai. Nothing objectionable. But you have left more than half the story unravelled. The PM was also in the employ of the GOI when Drirubhai & Deora were visiting Delhi and meeting bureaucrats & politicians.How many of those politicians remained on the regular payrolls of the Reliance group and from when to when. More serious, how many of the bureaucrats got post retirement employment in Rliance, at what monthly salary, for how long and how easily they were cleared for accepting such employment in relaxation of service rules prohibiting such employment within two years of retirement, especially if the officer has had official dealings with the employer!
Only then it will be credible to ask anybody, including Deora, to play fair.Unfortunately, the aam aadmi feels terribly weak ever since the press merged into the other three estates!It needs to retrieve its stature of THE FOURTH ESTATE!

It is bold and well written and informative article.But who cares, for such blunt and outright column..!

I really admire your articles / blogs.It is full of facts told very boldly. You being an ex-Presidency Calcutta Scholar, I know your standard and expect best from you always.

This report has braught the facts before the country and its people. I don't know how greedy our politicians and business men can be and how shamelessly they can act in the interest of earning huge cut money from all the deals that come in their way. The prime minister / UPA chairperson and others who support these kinds of politicians/dealings must be also having vested interests in oneway or other.

Prices of essential commodities are going skyhigh ,the poor people are becoming more and more poor, children are starving and Politicians / Businessmen / Public Administrators and Hgih level Police offices are making "Big Money" in billions and billions shamelessly. There is No Limit to their Greed. No Politician or Policy Maker is bothered at all. Infact they are doing it delibrately to make money as early as possible.

I think time has come when people have to declare Crusade against these Politicians / Businessmen / Public Administrators etc. Media personnel like you only can do that - though many media personnel have also joined the party of making "Big Money".

Can we expect something positive in near future ?

Mr. Akbar, you have successfully exposed Mr. Deora in the article. It is no secret where the loyalty and priority of Mr. Deora lie. It is the same Mr. Deora who does not want to increase the price of LPG (gas) which can benefit the public sector companies. However, he is interested to increase price of Gas which can benefit Mukesh Ambani at the cost of NTPC which again is a public sector company. Unfortunately, Mr. Manmohan Singh cannot do any harm to Mr. Deora. Reasons are obvious.

Mukesh and Anil, u looted anough of our Country. Now give back all the public money and start from scratch as your father late Dhirubhai did !!

The need of the hour for India today is the
requirement of honest "PARLIAMENTARIANS" and
"BUSINESSMEN" who are for mass citizens and their
benefits. These are the people who are true
"PATRIOTS". Parliamentarians who have taken oath
on our constitution and then do all sorts of
violations do not deserve to be in seat. Corrupt
parliamentarians and businessmen deserve tobe
punished by law/under the law. Note that under
the democracy nobody is above the law. Clean
government and its transperant functioning is the
order of the day in to-day's world.

man mohan singh, please action!

MJ' s analytical brilliance once again captures the murkiness and double-dealings of our ministers who are entrusted to shape and guide the destiny of a nation. personal interests always outweigh the interests of the nation as in this case with Mr. Deora.
but the blowtorch needs to be kept up and MJ does it magnificently, elegantly and in a very dignified manner.
hats off to you MJ the nation needs more upright journalists like you to make the people of India aware of the misdeeds of politicians.

MJ has made an objective assessment. Murli Deora certainly has a bias and has not acted in the best interest of the nation so far... May be a rap be Supreme court would enable to put the ministry in able hands.

Akabar himself representative of Arab lobby, his job is to create confusion and make look agent of Arab lobby innocent. His knowledge is as good as his vested interest served.

Kudos to MJ for researching the past to give us an understanding of the the present. Now Murli must be forced to admit his past relationship & Anil to acknowledge that his father was no saint.

It is ashamed to learn that our elected minister trying to sell our country's resources. MJ rightly you pointed the weakness of indian ministers of getting swish bank money and power.

Brilliant article. The collusion of our political masters with RIL (the Congress) is a public secret. Now that the Indian (m)asses having given a free run for congress for next 5 years, there seems to be little or no hope for justice. In the Mahabharata Arjuna defeated Bhishma pitamah fighting from behind Shikhandi. In today's political scenario Congress has put up an honest man with no or least authority infront as PM and they are busy at their favourite act of loot on the nation. God save my country.

Its high time govermt looks forward for the Public sectors rather than openely supporting the Reliance Biggies..................

One has to go back in time to get a better perspective. The price of gas was agreed upon before the brothers parted ways and both RIL and RNRL were under the same umbrella. Government of India was indifferent to the deal which was an in-house affair of the Group. I do not think the actual market price was ever an issue. The current stand that the wealth underground is a national asset and government should fix the price was a definite after-thought. Government's financial interest was and still is restricted to the taxes or royalty it is entitled to. I am not sure whether the suggested price increase will enrich the government coffers in the form of additional taxes. Murli Deoraji has burned his fingers. I hope the spark does not engulf the UPA family.

What an eye opener Mr. Akbar. I really admire your writings which are touching everyone's lives and hitting the right section of the society.
What you described about our minister is sure a clear conflict of interest by any standards. In any country such minister should be sacked from the government and set an example so that no one dares such adventure.
We always respect our prime minister who is very honest person and he should act if he has to maintain his that image.
It is common knowledge that all the business houses made crores only because they had the blessings of the political leaders, irrespective of the party they belonged.
The business houses give donations and money for fighting the the elections to the ruling party and the opposition both depending on what clout they represent.

It seems India is importing gas from RIL at international rates. RIL is set to make a windfall of profits by this deal and the main beneficiaries would be the shareholders of RIL. Poor people of India will still have to pay for high cost of energy like electricity, gas etc. Their misery will not end.

please stop blaming murli deora even if he has been bought by reliance because he is from UPA which is secular and they must be allowed to loot india and if you go against them minorities might feel offended and same authors who are blaming deora now will find new ingenious ways to prove that the whole thing is in fact orchestrated by BJP RSS VHP Modi etc

Rightly said that Gas is a national asset. but what is unsaid is that Ambanis are the Nation irrespective of which party heads the Government.

The blog conveys the essence of today's political scenario, Though I am not very keen on politician bashing, I cannot understand why we as citizens are not out on the street protesting, this issue affects every single person in the country.

Akbar Saheb, you are just too good.
India before its independence was called 'sone ki chidiya' and was plunderered and looted many a times by outsiders, now our politicians are taking turns in fleecing the already fleeced country.
Yes, our PM is a honest man but the band wagon that follows is corrupt and how can 1 honest man fight all of them. We as citizens must do our bit and create awareness through such articles.

Realistic article. This is common to all the ministers Telecom minister and his party bosses getting huge kick backs from spectrum sale, Sharad Pawar making huge gains from food import and the list goes on. But the irony of the present situation is that never it has been so open. Do anybody know how much % share Murli Deora and his family owns in RIL or its sister companies. This will happen forever and nobody will be able to trace the route where the major % is siphoned to?????

Hail Mockery of Indian Democracy

Simply awesome........One of the best ones if not the best........Keep writing boss.....

It pains everyone how lobbyists are making the govt to bend rules for the advantage of personal prosperity......

An eye opener. The only question that comes to my mind is, is this the only side of the story? There would be many more players, both active and passive. I partly agree, situation is working in favour or RIL and this is unjustified. Imagine the the other option. The Govt. takes over the operation. Then what? The whole operation will become a loss making venture and the burden will again come to the common man in forms and taxes and various levies, thereby, again escalating all costs.
Sitting on the fence our contribution will lead to confusions only. Let the dialog progress. Eventually everything will balance out.

Why not simply nationalise and pay off whatever RIL officially invested ( After thorough audit)

You have stated too much in the bonding of Minister Deora & Late Dhirubhai. Nothing objectionable. But you have left more than half the story unravelled. The PM was also in the employ of the GOI when Drirubhai & Deora were visiting Delhi and meeting bureaucrats & politicians.How many of those politicians remained on the regular payrolls of the Reliance group and from when to when. More serious, how many of the bureaucrats got post retirement employment in Rliance, at what monthly salary, for how long and how easily they were cleared for accepting such employment in relaxation of service rules prohibiting such employment within two years of retirement, especially if the officer has had official dealings with the employer!
Only then it will be credible to ask anybody, including Deora, to play fair.Unfortunately, the aam aadmi feels terribly weak ever since the press merged into the other three estates!It needs to retrieve its stature of THE FOURTH ESTATE!

That was indeed a bold article.But there are two questions - is anybody listening and secondly does it make any difference? Gas is a national property and letting private players call the shots is indeed the seed of all trouble.Its the question of masses who should have access to cooking gas.Making a price rise just to increase the margins of some private companies is highly unwelcome.

It however has more sinister implications.If the government is ready to increase the price of a bare minimum necessary item - that is the cooking Gas.Then one must wonder in future what are the other things it can compromise on.

Very good article, it is indeed shameful that after 60 years of indepencence our country is still being looted by the very same congress that fought for our independence.
Are you listening Mr. Prime Minister ???

Its full of facts, Mr. M J Akbar. Could you please do the same for our telecom ministor Mr. A Raja whos all decision for 2G and 3G frequency are suspicious and our Great Aam admi Sarkar is also helping him.
Congrats for this great artcle.

Mr.Murli Deora is understood to be in hand with Mr.Mukesh Ambani, he must quit that post, before a deal on KG Gas is taken up...It's true that Natural Gas is Govt. property, but unfortunately Mr.Murli Deora is Mr.Mukesh Ambani's property, incidently he also happens to the Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas.

Mr.M.J.Akbar,
Your blog is well researched and exposes the nexus of industrialists (Ambanis) and Politicians (Mr.Deora). Ambanis in the name of serving the nation are actually looting the country since long. Such type of nexus were exposed many times and is known to people but does anyone really cares for the country?

everyone is hearing anil ambani's allegations but why NTPC never were crying loud. This is time that these public organizations sold to private players or else they will come with huge losses.
this article is really enlightening.

It's now that the Govt. is shaken from its deep slumber and sheer arrogance of Openly supporting Mukesh Ambani for obvious reasons but for Anil all such voices would have been crushed & brushed aside by this Govt. arrogantly citing the "aam admi" rhetoric but now people have seen the sinister design and with High Court upholding Anil's contention its only the Judiciary that can set such blatant anti-national actions by Govt. of India under the Garb of Protection of National Interest...Mr.Deora has really put the whole Petroleum Ministry as a Bunch of Jokers making all Flip-Flops look so Silly....!!MJ Akbar has been Brilliant as ever and Times OF India too for finally Publishing such gutsy Piece We all think RIL & Ambanis can Crush/Buy/Trample any Ethical Voice that goes against their SELFISH Interest Mr.Deora is just a RIL stamped Minister...Well Said MJ Akbar if only half of your Fraternity were as Upright & Patriotic like You we wouldn't have had to SHOUT to make the AAm Admi sarkar hear our Voice..Best Wishes to both U and TOI...

It's now that the Govt. is shaken from its deep slumber and sheer arrogance of Openly supporting Mukesh Ambani for obvious reasons but for Anil all such voices would have been crushed & brushed aside by this Govt. arrogantly citing the "aam admi" rhetoric but now people have seen the sinister design and with High Court upholding Anil's contention its only the Judiciary that can set such blatant anti-national actions by Govt. of India under the Garb of Protection of National Interest...Mr.Deora has really put the whole Petroleum Ministry as a Bunch of Jokers making all Flip-Flops look so Silly....!!MJ Akbar has been Brilliant as ever and Times OF India too for finally Publishing such gutsy Piece We all think RIL & Ambanis can Crush/Buy/Trample any Ethical Voice that goes against their SELFISH Interest Mr.Deora is just a RIL stamped Minister...Well Said MJ Akbar if only half of your Fraternity were as Upright & Patriotic like You we wouldn't have had to SHOUT to make the AAm Admi sarkar hear our Voice..Best Wishes to both U and TOI.

I have always liked reading your articles, MJ. God bless you and may GOD save my country !!

m.j.akbar is 100% right. murli is raking up patriotic appeal to help.r.i.l.he is a scoundrel who will sell his country for his and his own family enrichment. we mumbaikar know this thief very well since he was chief of mumbai congress.

If you wanted some one to explore and find gas for the country and create facility for its efficient extraction and distribution then you needed a company like RIL. Govt. must assist and help hard working, intelligent and enterprising businessmen to create wealth for the nation which will improve our quality of life. I dont see any reason why we should complain if in the bargain RIL makes a lot of money for itself and also for its share holders who are also citizens of this country. It will still be a very small price to pay for the achievement even if you add to it some kick backs to the politicians and bureaucrats. Why all of you think Mukesh Ambani is a bad person? Just because some one named M.J.Akbar thnks so. Even if what he has written is true, I would still not bother about it and hope that the dispute is settled as fast as possible.

Nothing unusual about this. So long as the brothers were together under their Father,and making money, nothing was said and everything was done, with succesive regimes.Dhirubhai made merry with all regimes and played it well. It is only the partition of brothers that has forced this situation on policy makers.Otherwise common man had no reason to know all these oily things.This too will pass. Neither the decision makers nor the Brothers can afford to educate the people too much.
It has happened in License Raj, it is happening in free economy and shall continue ad nauseum.it will all pass off as a bad dream

While Murli Deora might be unabashedly reliance sympathizer, his predecessors were no less. The Government is a stooge of business houses and be it Manmohan or Atal they work more as agents of FICCI or ASSOCHEM than Prime Ministers. Well written article Mr. Akbar. I hope Murli Deoras, and Ram Naiks read it. So does Mr. Arun Shourie.

never gave this aspect a thought... very analytical.... but is not Mr Mukesh aligned to the INC.... can't it be a thank yougift from Mr deora for any help taken during elections

What is so extraordinary about it? Money bags and politics go hand in hand.

Some MAVERICK or 'FREEDOM FIGHTER' by the name Anil Ambani is putting ads for his personal benefit against his brother. Anil is shouting from rooftops about loss of Rs. 30,000.00 Crore to the Nation.
Mysteriously, a realization has dawned upon us that NATURAL GAS is a NATIONAL ASSET. Not only Murli Ram Naik also realizes this. Wisdom like swine flu seems to be a contagious disease. (‘Gulam’, swallow this wisdom virus, you would be cured of foot-in-mouth disease). We must zealously protect or else Americans will take away. Recently they detained Shahrukh to extract WISDOM VIRUS but couldn’t succeed as Shahrukh himself wanted it to promote his next film.
Neither Murli nor MOP & NG are short of funds to release counter advertisements. It will help our Newspapers to garner revenue in recession. Our Journalists friends could expect handsome Diwali Bonus if this AD WAR persists.
Now that Anil has tore off all his clothes and that of his brother, PM must issue directives on the principle “HAMAM ME SAB NANGE HEIN” to Murli to tear off his clothes and have a street fight at Vijay Chowk (you can take a peep from south block).
Mulayam has already ‘tore off his clothes’ to be a referee of the ‘DANGAL’. If not comfortable Mukesh can name his own. Before actual ‘DANGAL’ there would be referees ‘DANGAL’ and winning referee will officiate. This would be a big boost to Commonwealth Games, which got a jolt when our ex-MASTERS withdrew from Badminton event.
Two more “DANGALS” are required to be staged immediately:
(1) Between the OIL COMPANIES and KEROSENE ADULTERATORS
(2) Between again OIL COMPANIES and LPG BLACK MARKETERS
These ‘DANGALS’ could benefit the nation by Rs.30, 000.00 crores each, if not more. Like revenue from Mukesh – Anil ‘DANGAL’ would go to NTPC, the revenue from these ‘DANGAL’ would go to ONGC & GAIL.

Why blame only Mr. Deora. Please go through the Finance Budget wherein a new section is proposed to allow 100% deduction of capital expenditure incurred.....for laying and operating a cross country natural gas or crude or petroleum oil pipeline network for distribution. Do you know, who gets the maximum benefit!!!!

A good article - applauded and then again the masses go back to sleep after reading.

Here Both Congress and BJP will keep quiet as both are beneficiaries of the Generosity of RIL.

WILL INDIANS EVER GET THEIR ACT TOGETHER AND THROW THE GREEDY MINISTERS, MPs and BABUS OUT.

MAYBE NOT - we are a peace loving country - we will show the other cheek (another company for them to partner and sell our resources!).
We are not French or Russians to have the courage to be part of a Revolution to send the Greedy, Nation Milking creatures to the Guillitone.

Mr.Murli Deora should quit from his post immediately, he is acting like a puppet of Mr. Mukesh.

It is known and accepted fact that Mr. Murli Deora is a Pure Marwari Businessman. He is definately a oppertunist. If you look back to his past career, within last 2/3 decade, he has minted hugh big Balances. In short he is not a TRUST WORTHY TO BE A CABINET MINISTER- OF ANY SECTOR. By nature he is going to find out the resources, where he can squize maximum. I absolutely agree with the contention, finding and exposing Mr.Deora, Mr.M.J.Akbar is totally justified and his findings are admirable. His presantation in this article is much more informative to common readers. With a Trust in God, let us hope that The Hon.Prime Minister will open his 3rd eye and take appropriate decision in the interest of the NATION. Otherwise, it appears that the biggest benefit is already made by Mr. Deora, by issuing his half hazard statement. Without having received any gain, a businessman will not hold pen and paper. We know the famous businesman.

Not only Deora, but many others of this cabinet will need to be sacked, if only India gets their foreign account kitty. Drumming up gas as a national asset, is making fool of Indians. GoI wants to protect RIL interest, raise gas price, and squander the gain like everything else. The other scenerio is nationalise KG gas , and kill the golden goose as the GoI does with everything it owns.

Manmohan is like Dhritarashtra, the Blind Man. Can't do anything against Deora, the Duryodhan.
This controversey will die soon. Anil will get his pie and keep mum.

Murali Deora is hurting this country and countrymen, he must b arrested

when.oil was at 34 our miniser were sleeping.

Dear MJ Sahab,

I have been a consistent follower of your writing. Keep it sir.
Manoj Shetty