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Govt in spot again over coalgate
BJP wants SIT probe into alleged vetting of CBI report by govt
Tribune New Service

New Delhi, April 13
Already under attack for a series of corruption scandals, the UPA government found itself in the dock again as the controversy over the allocation of coal blocks resurfaced today.

A damaging media report today said the CBI status report on coalgate, submitted to the Supreme Court last month, was vetted by Law Minister Ashwani Kumar and officials from the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO).

The ruling coalition could be put to great embarrassment as it is also said the changes suggested by the government were incorporated by the CBI despite initial resistance from its officials.

The Congress core committee under the chairmanship Sonia Gandhi met in the evening to take a note of the situation and chalk out a strategy to deal with the same.

This revelation has reinforced the widespread perception that the CBI is not an independent body and the government exercises control over the premier investigative agency. The UPA government’s troubles could further multiply if the Supreme Court does not take kindly to this revelation.

The coalgate controversy had rocked Parliament last year when a CAG report revealed the arbitrary manner in which coal blocks were allocated to private players without proper verification. The Opposition had gone on the warpath when it realised it had got an opportunity to pin down Prime Minister Manmohan Singh since he was handling the coal portfolio when these allocations were made.

Today’s revelations have provided fresh ammunition to the BJP to hit out at the government with Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitley demanding the constitution of a special investigation team (SIT) to go into these charges. The Congress promptly rejected reports over government interference in the preparation of the CBI report on the coal scam submitted to the Supreme Court and ruled out resignation of Law Minister Ashwani Kumar.

“There is no question of resignation of Law Minister Ashwani Kumar. Supreme Court has already asked CBI to file an affidavit in this regard. CBI will file its affidavit and truth will come out”, adding that the matter is still under investigation under the Supreme Court’s supervision, Congres spokesperson Rashid Alvi said today.

Leader of opposition in the Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj was quick to react to these reports, indicating the BJP’s intent to launch an offensive against the government when the budget session of Parliament reconvenes on April 22.

In an early morning tweet Sushma Swaraj remarked, “This is a very serious matter. This is evidence of the government’s pressure on the CBI to save the PM.”