New Delhi: Why would Saddam Hussein have cultivated the Congress and Natwar Singh at a time when they were out of power?
This is one reason why many politicians and diplomats feel that Volcker's evidence lacks credibility.
However many others feel that the Congress had special ties with Saddam dating back to the days of Indira Gandhi.
The Volcker report suggests a closeness between Natwar Singh and the then Iraqi despot Saddam Hussein.
Hamid Ansari, India's former envoy to the UN, finds it difficult to believe that Saddam Hussain would choose Singh and the then Opposition party - Congress - to influence the Iraq policy of the NDA Government.
He says, "The person named in the report (Natwar Singh) was not a member of the government, his party was not in. If you want to influence a country you go to the party in power not the Opposition party."
The evidence relied upon by the Volcker Commission too does not impress Ansari.
The details of the food-for-oil gravy train state that Natwar Singh picked up 19 lakh barrels of oil.
The report mentions Congress as the beneficiary from the sale of 10 lakh barrels.
Ansari feels that this is not clinching evidence, which can nail Natwar Singh and the Congress.
But former foreign secretary Romesh Bhandari, who has also served as India's envoy to Iraq, says he's not surprised at the deal between Saddam and an out-of-power Congress.
"Iraq did a special favour to India by giving a fairly massive credit for purchase of oil. Indira Gandhi had gone to Iraq and very special treatment was given to her," he adds.
The irony is that the Congress is being made to answer to charges of kickbacks even while it was in the Opposition.
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