P Chidambaram and Coal Minister clarifiy on 'Coal-gate': Highlights

New Delhi: For the fourth day in a row, Parliament was adjourned before any business could be conducted, as the BJP continued to shout its demand for the Prime Minister's resignation over the Coal-gate' scam.

Finance Minister P Chidambaram, Coal Minister Sri Prakash Jaiswal and Law Minister Salman Khurshid addressed the media expressing dismay that the opposition was not allowing for a debate on the CAG report on coal block allocation losses.

Highlights of that press conference:

P Chidambaram, Union Finance Minister

-- My colleague Sri Jaiswal has held two media briefings and effectively pleaded the government's case.

-- Despite that we are disappointed that the Opposition is unwilling to let the parliament function and unwilling to discuss it on the floor of the house.

-- With specific reference to CAG report on coal block allocations, the PM is willing to make a statement and answer any question that arise out of the statement

-- We request  the opposition that  they discuss this on the floor of the house on Monday.

-- Urge the media to report correctly.

-- This is a policy that has been there for many years, even before 2004.

-- UPA did not make any change in policy; it attempted to make a change- that took certain number of years to fructify.

-- Ultimately the UPA government managed to change the law.

-- The government which brought about a change in  policy is now being blamed.

-- If you did nothing you will not be blamed; if you tried to change you will be blamed - is that the standard by which we will conduct our public affairs?

-- If coal is not mined, where is the loss?

-- If you want any clarification on facts, the minister is here, the secretary is here, we will answer.

-- All this is a matter of debate, we are not running away from debate.

-- Unfortunate that we cannot say this on the floor of the house and we have to create this platform.

-- In 2005, government after government opposed the change in policy.

-- We had to get state governments on board.

-- We would have run roughshod with the states if it was done through an administrative order.

-- The law was finally put in place and the states were taken on board.

-- That was the correct and prudent way of doing this - even if it took some time.

-- A policy can be right but implementing a policy may be erroneous. In certain cases where the allocation of a certain block was wrong, we will look into it.

-- The wheels of govt move slower than I would like, but in the face of so much opposition there were delays and while we can regret the delay, this does not imply the complicity - these are different issues.

-- Revenue is a consideration, depending on the sector there will be difference on the parameters. These will be worked out in the bidding document. Government is not in the business of trading in coal.

-- We are not here to enter into debate with the CAG on inaccurate figures.

-- Our strategy in Parliament has been largely based around one word - patience. They should show the PM the courtesy of making a statement. I sincerely hope on Monday the Prime Minister will be allowed to make a statement

--This media briefing is not to confront the CAG.

-- This briefing is to place before the people a far more serious issue - that Parliament must be allowed to function. We are ready to debate any issue. I can say with authority the Prime Minister is ready with a statement.

-- Goods and Services Tax, Land Acquisition Bill,  National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC) are all on hold because we want to take states on board. It is wrong to say we overruled the states. 


Sri Prakash Jaiswal, Union Coal Minister

-- To not let the Parliament function, is a conspiracy to malign the government and tarnish the image of a few clean and honest political leaders

-- We are ready to debate the CAG report before all else.

-- But to accuse the Prime Minister in the media and outside the house, is not fair.

-- The policy has been  there from 1993 - it was a 100% correct policy.

-- We tried to make it more transparent - but those that are criticising us - their government in the states opposed us.

-- How could we have changed policy in a federal structure with such opposition from the states?

-- I feel the Opposition knows their opinion will not stand in the house and therefore are trying to evade a debate.

-- Everything will be clarified in front of the people of this country.

-- Not correct to say we woke up after the CAG report.

-- We had been taking steps to make the process transparent for the past three years.

--CBI is inquring into allocation of 57 coal blocks between 2006 and 2009. This was based on complaints to the Central Vigilance Commission.

-- Some companies may have submitted faulty documents or false information - there could be errors of commission or omission. The government - the Prime Minister and the minister's job  is to frame policy. There is nothing in the case  and that is why they are not debating it

-- Of the 57 coal blocks allocated which the CAG mentioned, of that only one block is producing coal, so where is the question of loss?


Salman Khurshid, Union Law Minister

-- The Law Ministry doesn't advice on policy , it looks at legal implications.

-- The Law Ministry seems to have suggested is that it could be done through administrative order; but the sustained way to do it is through legislation , because there you can provide for many more factors.

-- There are many issues in the CAG report  that isn't being looked at.