New Delhi: Law Minister Ashwani Kumar today said that he will not resign from office despite the CBI admitting that he asked to see a copy of the report on its coal investigation before it was submitted to the Supreme Court. (Read: CBI says report was shared with Law Minister, PMO)
"I have done no wrong, the truth will prevail," Mr Kumar said today, as the opposition insisted he has "lost the moral right" to remain in office.
The CBI director, Ranjit Sinha, has not disclosed whether the minister asked him to make changes, or if he accommodated these requests. Mr Sinha's affidavit to the court today says that a draft of the report was also previewed by a senior bureaucrat in the Prime Minister's Office and the Coal Ministry. (Read: CBI director's affidavit to Supreme Court)
The Congress is backing its minister for now as it waits to see how the Supreme Court reacts to the CBI's affidavit next week. Senior Congressman Kamal Nath said, as he ruled out Mr Kumar's resignation, that the latter did not see the final version of the report.
Government sources argue that the minister and officials asked to see the CBI report as part of "due consultation," to ensure that information shared with the agency was being used correctly. The Law Minister told reporters that the document he saw was a draft, and not the final version that was given to the court.
The opposition is buying neither argument. It says the CBI's revelations prove that the government tried to impede the agency's autonomy and investigation, and that the Law Minister and Prime Minister are equally accountable and must quit. (Read)
The CBI document is meant to be confidential between the agency and the judges who are monitoring why coal fields were allocated to private players without a transparent bidding process.
"I have done no wrong, the truth will prevail," Mr Kumar said today, as the opposition insisted he has "lost the moral right" to remain in office.
The CBI director, Ranjit Sinha, has not disclosed whether the minister asked him to make changes, or if he accommodated these requests. Mr Sinha's affidavit to the court today says that a draft of the report was also previewed by a senior bureaucrat in the Prime Minister's Office and the Coal Ministry. (Read: CBI director's affidavit to Supreme Court)
The CBI director assured the court that "no political executive" had seen the latest status report that he submitted to the court today in a sealed cover. Sources said in that sealed envelope, the CBI has today also submitted to the court the draft report that was previewed by the Law Minister and a copy of the version that the CBI had finally submitted in court on March 8.
The Congress is backing its minister for now as it waits to see how the Supreme Court reacts to the CBI's affidavit next week. Senior Congressman Kamal Nath said, as he ruled out Mr Kumar's resignation, that the latter did not see the final version of the report.
Advertisement
The opposition is buying neither argument. It says the CBI's revelations prove that the government tried to impede the agency's autonomy and investigation, and that the Law Minister and Prime Minister are equally accountable and must quit. (Read)
Advertisement
COMMENTS
Advertisement
Complete Migrant Labourers' Ration Card Verification In 1 Month: Supreme Court To States State Government Has No Authority To Change Scheduled Caste Lists: Supreme Court Supreme Court Registry To Be Off On 2nd, 4th Saturdays: Chief Justice's Big Announcement Under-Fire Trainee IAS Officer Accuses Pune Collector Of Harassment Trainee IAS Officer Puja Khedkar Recalled To Academy, Training Put On Hold What Trump Rally Shooter Did On Last Day Of His Life Four In Five Americans Fear Country Is Sliding Into Chaos: Polls Royal Enfield Guerrilla 450 Launched In India; Prices Start At Rs. 2.39 Lakh Admission Deadline Extended For EWS And Special Needs Children Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.