New Delhi:
The BJP wants the government to urgently explain in Parliament why and how important files that explain how coal fields were allocated to private firms are missing.
Alleged irregularities in how mining licenses were issued - the premise of "coal-gate" - have engulfed the government for several months, with the CBI investigating the scam, and the Supreme Court repeatedly admonishing the government for trying to influence the enquiry. The Prime Minister held direct charge of the Coal Ministry for some of the years under scrutiny, making the scandal especially embarrassing for the government as it preps to ask voters for a third straight term.
Over the weekend, Coal Minister Sriprakah Jaiswal admitted that "It is true that some files from 1993 to 2004 are missing." He said a committee is looking into how the files disappeared.
The BJP has, in the Rajya Sabha, moved an adjournment notice demanding that usual business be suspended for an urgent discussion on the missing files. "PM should clarify on the missing files," senior BJP leader Venkaiah Naidu said today. His colleague Yashwant Sinha added, "Top most levels of government involved, therefore not surprised at all that files are missing."
The CBI had said in court last month that at least five crucial files related to allotment of coal blocks during 2006-09 have not been received by it despite detailed requests being made to the government.
In May, the CBI conceded that officials from the Law Ministry and Prime Minister's Office had altered a confidential report on Coal-gate before it was shared with Supreme Court judges.