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CBI’s coal mines affidavit lands govt in crisis
CBI’s coal mines affidavit lands govt in crisis
IANS/New Delhi
The Manmohan Singh government yesterday appeared to be in deep political crisis after the opposition demanded Law Minister Ashwani Kumar’s resignation for vetting a CBI affidavit meant only for the Supreme Court on the coal blocks allocation. |
In its two-page affidavit, Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) chief Ranjit Sinha told the Supreme Court that it had “shared” its March 8 status report on investigations into coal blocks allocation with Ashwani Kumar and senior officials in the Prime Minister’s Office and the coal ministry.
Ashwani Kumar, the man in the eye of the storm, said he has “not done any wrong” and “truth will prevail”.
The supposedly independent CBI’s disclosure could spell more trouble for the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance government and could have ramifications for even the prime minister, who held the coal minister’s portfolio in UPA-I during the allocation of coal blocks now under scrutiny.
The developments led to a political storm, with the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Left parties demanding the resignation of Ashwani Kumar and disrupting parliament over the issue.
The issue has given the opposition yet another stick with which to beat the government, already battling a public perception of being corrupt and inept.
The government has ruled out the law minister’s resignation.
Government sources said if the law minister is removed, the prime minister could be next in the line of fire.
The comptroller and auditor general (CAG) has found large-scale irregularities in awarding lucrative mining contracts to private companies. The contracts covered over 100 mines across the country.