New Delhi: The coal scam resurfaced on Saturday following reports of alleged government interference in CBI investigations with the BJP demanding an SIT probe into it but the Congress firmly rejected the charge and also ruled out the resignation of Law Minister Ashwani Kumar.
Leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitley targeted the UPA by accusing it of being a “rogue government” that will not allow CBI to function independently and demanded constitution of a Special Investigation Team.
He also charged the government with “interference in the administration of justice” by not allowing CBI to acquaint the apex court with the full truth in the case.
“CBI cannot find out the truth and even if some honest officer in the CBI tries to find out the truth, the UPA is a rogue government which will not allow it to operate independently,” Jaitley said.
His Lok Sabha counterpart, Sushma Swaraj, criticised the government for “vetting” of the CBI report and said it is part of “an attempt to save Prime Minister Manmohan Singh”.
JD(U) spokesperson Shivanand Tiwari also termed the reports as “very serious”, saying this is contempt of court.
“Supreme Court is asking CBI to submit its report and government is toning it down. This is for the first time to my knowledge that such a thing is happening.”
The Opposition’s attack on the issue came in the wake of reports that Law Minister Ashwani Kumar summoned CBI Chief and the report was changed and toned down after the meeting.
Unfazed by the attack, Congress rejected the charge of interference in the preparation of CBI report in the coal scam for the Supreme Court and ruled out resignation of Law Minister Ashwani Kumar in this regard.
“There is no question of resignation of Law Minister Ashwani Kumar. Supreme Court has already asked CBI to file an affidaviat in this regard. CBI will file its affidavit and truth will come out,” party spokesperson Rashid Alvi said.
The CAG, in its report last year, had estimated a loss of Rs 1.86 lakh crore in allocation of coal blocks since 2004. (PTI)