Yadav’s July-18 letter was forwarded by the PMO on July 29, a week after UPA won the trust vote in Parliament backed by the SP. “It is requested that the facts of the case may kindly be sent to this office,” wrote the PMO while attaching a copy of the letter.

Earlier last month, SP general secretary Amar Singh wrote to the PM suggesting steps to tackle inflation. He did not name RIL, but suggested a windfall tax on oil companies including ‘a well-known private operator’ as well as removing the export oriented unit status of a domestic refinery (read Jamnagar refinery of RIL).

Anil says he wants the gas for the Dadri power project in Uttar Pradesh, the very reason cited by Yadav for seeking an explanation. “As I am concerned about securing gas supply for Dadri project from RIL’s Krishna-Godavari basin, which was envisaged by Samajwadi Party in 2004, the above clarification will help clear the ambiguity on Government’s tilt towards any party,” wrote Yadav.

Anil has claimed right over 28 million standard cubic metres of gas per day at $2.34 per million British thermal units, the price inked in the contracts between the two, while the Government fixed price is $4.2 per mBtu. Unless this squabble is not cleared, RIL has been stopped from entering into any sales agreement with buyers.