Coal scam: Govt defiant, backs Law Minister as Oppn asks him to quit

Mangalore Today/CNN-IBN

New Delhi,April 26: Despite Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) Director Ranjit Sinha informing the Supreme Court that the draft report on the coal block allocation scam was shared with Law Minister Ashwani Kumar before its submission, the government remained defiant and said there was no need for the minister to resign. The affidavit, which the probe agency filed with the Supreme Court on Friday morning, has given more ammunition to the Opposition, which has been demanding resignations of both Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Kumar.

"Truth will prevail. I have done nothing wrong," said Kumar, who met the Prime Minister shortly after the CBI submitted its report. "Political executives did not see the final status report given to the Supreme Court. There is no need for the Law Minister to resign," Parliamentary Affair Minister Kamal Nath said, backing Kumar. Sources have said Congress President Sonia Gandhi is also against Ashwani Kumar’s resignation.

 

The latest controversy on coal scam and a adamant stand by the main Opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has also raised doubts over the passage of the Finance Bill. Nath even visited BJP veteran leader LK Advani to seek cooperation for the passage of the Bill.

Sinha has said in the affidavit that the draft of the report was shared with Kumar "as desired by him", a charge that the Congress has been rejecting. The director has also said the draft of the report was even shared with a joint secretary in the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) and Coal Ministry officials.

Sinha’s two-page affidavit filed on the direction of the apex court contradicts the claim made by CBI counsel on the last date of hearing that the coalgate scam report was not shared with any member of the government. The government had asserted it did not vet the the probe agency’s status report.

"I submit that the draft (status report)of the same was shared with Law Minister as desired by him prior to its submission before the Supreme Court.... it was also shared with one joint secretary level officer each of Prime Minister’s Office and Ministry of Coal as desired by them," the affidavit said.

The Congress core group and UPA allies met to discuss CBI’s coal scam affidavit. Sources said decision on Kumar will be taken on April 30 depending on Supreme Court’s observation on affidavit.

The probe agency will now file another report which it has promised not to share with any political executive. However, advocate and the petitioner in the case Prashant Bhushan has questioned CBI’s ability to conduct an independent inquiry into the case. "If CBI director has to take permission and advice of these officers to file an affidavit then what kind of independent inquiry do we expect in this case by CBI," questioned Bhushan.

"Affidavit is also silent on the changes sought by the Centre. Affidavit does not say who else was present at the meetings," the lawyer further said. The main Opposition the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has been demanding resignation of the Law Minister and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in the wake of reports that he had summoned the CBI chief after which the report on the scam was "toned down". Congress had rejected the charge of interference and had ruled out resignation of Kumar.

The BJP reiterated its demand for Prime Minister’s resignation and stressed on the need to reveal the original affidavit of the CBI. "The point is meeting was held at the direction of the Law Minister. CBI should reveal what was the original draft report. Attempts are being made to frustrate investigations. Nation is entitled to know what was the vetting done by the PM and the Law Minister. Attempts to influence the CBI are well known, but what has been the extent of damage of that influence. The buck stops with the PM. As the head of the government and as the minister incharge of the Coal Ministry when the scam took place," BJP spokesperson Ravi Shankar Prasad said.

The opposition also raised questions over the meeting between Minister of State in PMO V Narayanasamy and the CBI director Ranjit Sinha and said the probe agency is being "politicised". But the Union Minister has said the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is making an "issue out of nothing".

But Narayanasamy has defended the meeting saying Sinha had invited him only for a function. "I attended the function in the evening, had dinner as well. I spent an hour there as well. BJP is making an issue out of nothing," said the Minister.

There were noisy scenes in Parliament on Thursday with the opposition gunning for Kumar and demanding that he take accountability and step down. The opposition has also been stepping up pressure on the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. Congress sources have said that contrary to reports, the Prime Minister had not asked for any intervention. On Friday, leader of opposition in the Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitley gave a breach of privilege notice in the House.

In March, the probe agency had said in its status report that many companies were given coal blocks through false representations and that there was no rationale for allocation of the blocks. The Supreme Court had ordered the CBI not to share the report with the government. It has also asked the Centre to explain why a small group of companies were favoured.