Missing coal scam files: PM is in the line of fire
Opposition claims files relate to Singh’s period, seeks explanation
An aggressive BJP on Tuesday led protests over the missing files of coal mine allocations, forcing adjournment of both the Houses of Parliament.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh came in the line of fire with the Opposition pointing out that the missing files relate to the period 20062009 when the former was holding the charge of the coal ministry. The Opposition refused to allow either House to function until the Prime Minister explained how these files wanted by the CBI have gone missing.
Coal Minister Sriprakash Jaiswal made a vain attempt to claim in the Rajya Sabha that the missing files relate to the pre-2004 period of the NDA regime and not to the period during which Dr Manmohan Singh held the portfolio. He even gave an assurance of sorts. "I would like to assure the House that my ministry would leave no stone unturned in tracing and providing the documents sought by the CBI," he said, while asserting that he was ready to undergo any punishment if his involvement was established in the disappearance of the files.
Opposition leader Arun Jaitley, however, turned the tables on Jaiswal challenging him to categorically state that no files pertaining to the 2006-09 period were missing. ''Government files do not just disappear, they are made to disappear with an intent to ensure that those guilty escape punishment, Jaitley said, asserting that it amounts to destruction of evidence of a crime.
Jaiswal tried to wriggle out saying that the CBI was still investigating the matter but Jaitley pinned him down, demanding whether any legal recourse was taken after the files vanished. Was any FIR registered, he asked, asserting that movement of every file in the government is recorded and hence it is impossible that it cannot be located unless it
has been willfully removed and destroyed to save the PM's skin. He wanted the list of the companies whose files were 'made to disappear.' Opposition leader Sushma Swaraj led the attack in the Lok Sabha, pointing out that the Prime Minister had given a commitment to the House in August last year that he would take full responsibility for any wrongdoing in the ministry while he was holding charge of the portfolio. She refused to accept Jaiswal's explanation, insisting that the Prime Minister should clarify how the files and records have disappeared. Swaraj claimed that the missing files included applications for coal blocks and alleged that they have gone missing as some big shots of the Congress were involved. BJP spokesman Prakash Javadekar later told a press conference that the missing files relate to 2006-09 and this has been disclosed to Parliament's Public Accounts Committee by the CBI chief. He also quoted the CBI chief as telling a daily on Tuesday that he suspects the missing files relate to the coal scam. He also claimed that Jaiswal himself was under shadow as his relatives had made money in the coal blocks' allocation. Javadekar said these files were missing since July last year when the CBI had sought them. He demanded that the government should disclose the list of files which are missing and the CBI should seize the computers of the Coal Ministry to recover the database to reconstruct the missing files. He also asserted that the Congress party was not interested in running of Parliament as otherwise the prime minister would have come to the House and responded to the queries. The stalemate may continue on Thursday when the two Houses meet again after a day's recess.