The Cabinet decision to set up the committee headed by State Industries Minister Suresh Mehta was announced by Chief Minister Keshubhai Patel on Wednesday, which is being seen as a clever move to `clip the wings' of Jaspal.

In an informal chat with news persons here on Thursday, Singh, however, sought to scotch all rumours that he has had differences with the Chief Minister, claiming that the decision to form the committee has been taken in response to his request that some mechanism on pricing of groundnut oil and protecting consumers' interests be worked out.

Responding to a query, Jaspal said he or his department had little to do with the prices of onions and potatoes, adding that the committee would take care of the problem. "Whatever responsibility the Chief Minister entrusts me, I am always prepared to shoulder it," he said.

Singh, who returned here on Thursday morning after attending the Central Consumer Protection Council conference called by Union Food and Civil Supplies Minister S S Barnala in Delhi on Wednesday, said that in his speech at the conference, he made it very clear that the State government would not be able to effectively check black marketing and adulteration, unless the Centre stops interfering in the affairs of the State.

he minister said that he had expressed reservations against Barnala's recent orders securing the release of four persons booked by the State civil supplies department for alleged involvement in adulteration of groundnut oil which was purchased for the mid-day meal scheme of the government.