Raval quits, law minister’s fate hangs in balance
1 May 2013 7:22 AM IST
Unnerved by the severe rap received from the Supreme Court in the coal block allocation scam case, Congress managers have been working overtime to trounce the renewed assault by the Opposition. Sources inside the party say opinion is building up in Congress to drop law minister Ashwani Kumar from the cabinet, as his meeting with CBI chief Ranjit Sinha to ‘vet’ the affidavit has triggered the current crisis.
However, sources added that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has counselled ‘wait and watch’ for now and keep its cards under the table until the apex court’s next hearing scheduled for 8 May. Meanwhile, the controversy scalped its first victim with additional solicitor general Harin Raval quitting office on Tuesday, after he blamed attorney general GE Vahanvat of influencing the CBI probe into the allotment of coal blocks a day earlier.
Singh told media on Tuesday, ‘I have not studied the Supreme Court’s observations. Whatever action is called for will be taken after studying it.’ PM’s remarks came in when asked about the embarrassing situation his government was facing following the court’s order over the coal allocation issue.
Soon after the apex court’s observation, law minister Ashwani Kumar met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to discuss the matter. But, sources say Kumar did not offer his resignation to PM during this short meeting.
However, the party’s dilemma was expressed by Congress general secretary Janardhan Dwivedi who said, ‘Of course, it is not a pleasant comment for any dispensation.’ He added, ‘Congress has never commented on the remarks of any court and in particular the Supreme Court. We are maintaining it in this case also.’
However, sources added that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has counselled ‘wait and watch’ for now and keep its cards under the table until the apex court’s next hearing scheduled for 8 May. Meanwhile, the controversy scalped its first victim with additional solicitor general Harin Raval quitting office on Tuesday, after he blamed attorney general GE Vahanvat of influencing the CBI probe into the allotment of coal blocks a day earlier.
Singh told media on Tuesday, ‘I have not studied the Supreme Court’s observations. Whatever action is called for will be taken after studying it.’ PM’s remarks came in when asked about the embarrassing situation his government was facing following the court’s order over the coal allocation issue.
Soon after the apex court’s observation, law minister Ashwani Kumar met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to discuss the matter. But, sources say Kumar did not offer his resignation to PM during this short meeting.
However, the party’s dilemma was expressed by Congress general secretary Janardhan Dwivedi who said, ‘Of course, it is not a pleasant comment for any dispensation.’ He added, ‘Congress has never commented on the remarks of any court and in particular the Supreme Court. We are maintaining it in this case also.’
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