Facing flak for compromising his position as Prime Minister as revealed in a book by his former media adviser Sanjaya Baru, Manmohan Singh again came under attack on Monday as former Coal Secretary PC Parakh claimed that despite leading the UPA Government, Singh had little control over his Ministers who blatantly scuttled reforms.
Addressing the media after releasing his book titled Crusader or ConspiratorIJ Coalgate and other Truths, Parekh said, “Had the Prime Minister used his authority the coal block allocation scam could have been avoided.” The former Coal Secretary added that if he was being alleged to be a part of the conspiracy (to allot coal blocks without putting them on auction) then even the Prime Minister has to be a part of it.
Parakh, who has been named as an accused in one of the FIRs registered by the CBI in the matter, alleged that despite suggesting the PM on several occasions that coal blocks should be auctioned, his advice fell on deaf ears.
He specifically held former Coal Ministers Shibu Soren and Dasari Narayana Rao (both of whom were in-charge of the Ministry in UPA-I), besides MPs cutting across the political class responsible, for scuttling reforms in the Coal Ministry. Parakh added sarcastically that in return of years of his professional services, he was rewarded last year with a CBI raid on his residence eight years after his retirement.
“These two Ministers resolutely opposed my proposal to put coal blocks to open bidding. Unfortunately, the Prime Minister was not able to control his ministers in the proposal that I made in 2004... I saw in the Ministry, how Chief Executives and Directors of PSEs are appointed,” Parakh told reporters. He added that “money is openly asked for appointment of directors and CEOs. I saw MPs becoming blackmailers and extortionists. They blackmailed officers, they blackmailed CEOs of Government companies. I saw how ministers have reversed the decision of the Prime Minister, who had agreed to putting coal blocks in Internet-based auctions.”
“Yes, if the Prime Minister had used his authority behind the reforms proposal, it (scam) could have (been avoided),” Parakh told reporters. The retired bureaucrat at the same time denied any “design” behind the timing of the book’s release. “I have been writing the book for last two-three years. But after the CAG report and the CBI probe, I have just added one chapter to it,” Parakh added. Asked about the FIR against him in connection with allocation of Talabira-II coal block in Odhisa, Parakh said, “CBI said there was a conspiracy, I am not saying there was not a conspiracy, but if CBI thought there was a conspiracy then conspiracy has to be between people who take decisions. So you had Prime Minister who has finally taken the decision. So, if I am a part of conspiracy, he (PM) has to be a part of the conspiracy.”
The book was released by retired Supreme Court Judge GS Singhvi and former Cabinet Secretary TSR Subramanian in Parakh’s presence. The former Coal Secretary expressed happiness that the book could be released on the occasion of Ambedkar Jayanti. He also stated that he drew inspiration for writing the book from Premchand’s story “Namak Ka Daroga”.
Parakh said he had complained to the Central Vigilance Commissioner about the “blackmailing” by MPs. “I did tell the CVC about it (blackmailing by MPs and politicians for preferable allocation of coal blocks). I am not aware what happened after that. Nothing had happened during my tenure,” Parekh said. About the CBI probe, he said, “It is my assessment that the CBI investigation in this case will go nowhere.”