Bansal, Ashwani Kumar must go, says BJP
7 May 2013 7:40 AM IST
In wake of new submissions by the CBI to the Supreme Court that the government made significant changes in the status report of the CBI, the principal opposition made it clear on Monday that they won’t let Parliament function till Law and Railway ministers resign.
The BJP charged that alterations made at the behest of Law Minister Ashwani Kumar were damaging and aimed at protecting the government on the coal mines allocation issue. Referring to Para 19 of the CBI affidavit, Leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitley said the portion where the probe agency had stated that it is not clear on what basis weightage was given to those who got the mining contracts have been removed at the instance of the minister.
The BJP also said that the broadsheets which were part of the CBI report on coal block allotments have been omitted. Another significant change is removal of the section where the agency wants to know why the criteria of auction suggested by CAG in 2004 has not been followed even till 2010. ‘These are extremely major changes... The investigation was directed at the Coal Minister and the Prime Minister. In a way, the report was shown to possible suspects,’ said Jaitley.
On the issue of Railway Minister P K Bansal’s nephew’s alleged involvement in the bribery case for a plum posting in the Railways, Jaitley said there is a rythm in the way the files moved and the money was paid. ‘The person who was given the bribes is an alter ego of the Railway Minister in politics and business,’ said Jaitley.
Leader of the Opposition, Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj made it amply clear that the opposition will support the government on Food Security Bill and Land Acquisition Bill only if Kumar and Bansal quit from their posts. ‘This government is not only corrupt but is also an oppressive one. It tried to get the Food Security Bill passed in the Lok Sabha today thinking this will divert the country’s attention from their corruption. This is condemnable,’ said Swaraj.
The BJP leader pointed out there is time for the government till 10 May.
The BJP charged that alterations made at the behest of Law Minister Ashwani Kumar were damaging and aimed at protecting the government on the coal mines allocation issue. Referring to Para 19 of the CBI affidavit, Leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitley said the portion where the probe agency had stated that it is not clear on what basis weightage was given to those who got the mining contracts have been removed at the instance of the minister.
The BJP also said that the broadsheets which were part of the CBI report on coal block allotments have been omitted. Another significant change is removal of the section where the agency wants to know why the criteria of auction suggested by CAG in 2004 has not been followed even till 2010. ‘These are extremely major changes... The investigation was directed at the Coal Minister and the Prime Minister. In a way, the report was shown to possible suspects,’ said Jaitley.
On the issue of Railway Minister P K Bansal’s nephew’s alleged involvement in the bribery case for a plum posting in the Railways, Jaitley said there is a rythm in the way the files moved and the money was paid. ‘The person who was given the bribes is an alter ego of the Railway Minister in politics and business,’ said Jaitley.
Leader of the Opposition, Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj made it amply clear that the opposition will support the government on Food Security Bill and Land Acquisition Bill only if Kumar and Bansal quit from their posts. ‘This government is not only corrupt but is also an oppressive one. It tried to get the Food Security Bill passed in the Lok Sabha today thinking this will divert the country’s attention from their corruption. This is condemnable,’ said Swaraj.
The BJP leader pointed out there is time for the government till 10 May.
Next Story
