Cong MP alleges oil firm tried to bribe him

A Congress member today alleged in the Lok Sabha that officials of a major private oil company had tried to bribe him and then threatened him with dire consequences for leading a farmers' protest against their project in Gujarat.

A Congress member today alleged in the Lok Sabha that officials of a major private oil company had tried to bribe him and then threatened him with dire consequences for leading a farmers' protest against their project in Gujarat.

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"The corporate mafia reached my home and tried to bribe me. They later threatened me with dire consequences in the presence of the District Collector and Superintendent of Police", Vikrambhai Arjanbhai Maadam, who represents Jamnagar, said during Zero Hour.

Naming Cairns India Limited, a leading player in the Indian oil and gas industry, he claimed that its officials had offered him a "Rs two crore bribe and warned me on several occasions. The police says there is no case and I have no protection."

Maadam said he had been leading farmers' protests in the area for several months as there have been "severe discrepancies" in the compensation being paid to them for giving away their land for the pipeline project.

Demanding dismissal of officials allegedly involved in threatening him, he asserted that the protesting farmers would not allow "anyone to trespass on their land till proper compensation is paid to them."

Maadam was supported by several members from Congress, RJD and SP who sought protection for him and an enquiry into the charges.

Speaker Meira Kumar said the matter was under her consideration and she would pay attention to his fear of insecurity.