An aggressive BJP on Tuesday cornered the Government in Parliament over the missing files related to the coalgate and derailed the Congress plan to push its game-changer Food Security Bill on the 69th birth anniversary of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi.
With the BJP insisting that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh should personally give statement in both Houses of Parliament about the mystery behind the missing files and the Government ruling out any such concession, the stalemate could cast its shadow on functioning of Parliament when it resumes on Thursday.
In a bid to douse the flame of protest in both Houses, Coal Minister Sriprakash Jaiswal tried to make a statement first in the Rajya Sabha and then in the lok Sabha. But members in both Houses were not ready to listen him and wanted him to recuse himself because his name also figured in the scam.
Jaiswal, however, did not oblige the Opposition in the Upper House and read out the statement which lacked in specifics, including the number of files missing.
This gave an opportunity to leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitley to corner the Coal Minister. Responding to Jaiswal's claim that the files pertained to pre-2004 period, Jaitley asked him to categorically say if no file after 2005 period had gone missing. Jaiswal had no answer to this poser
Jaitley raised this point when Jaisawal and some members from the treasury benches tried to hint that most of the missing files pertained to pre-2004 period when the NDA was in power and pointed a needle of suspicion towards the erstwhile Vajpayee dispensation.
Jaitley also slammed the Coal Minister for inaction and asked why no FIR was filed because this was a case of destruction of evidence.
In both Houses, the Opposition kept up its relentless campaign for answers from the PM, who was incharge of the Coal Ministry for some of the years under scrutiny. “It is only logical that the Minister 'then in charge' should clarify in the House. The missing files relate to a certain period,” said CPI-M MP Sitaram Yechury.
With the BJP not ready to allow the House to function till PM came out with a clarification, the House saw noisy scenes and heated exchange of words between the Opposition and treasury benches. After several adjournments, the House was adjourned for the day in post-lunch session.
In lok Sabha, BJP's sustained attack on the Prime Minister over the missing Coal scam files derailed UPA's Food Security Bill plans. The main Opposition did not allow the House to transact any business seeking Manmohan Singh's personal clarification in the matter. Singh had held the coal portfolio from 2006 to 2009 when the coal blocks were allocated in a scandalous manner.
leader of Opposition in the lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj blasted the Government for misplacing the file despite the August 6 order from the Supreme Court, which asked the government to hand over to the CBI all scam-related official records without delay.
“Each file is linked to a one senior Congress leader. How have they disappearedIJ Where have they goneIJ The PM needs to come to this House and explain,” Swaraj said in the lok Sabha.
The House saw three adjournments before it was finally adjourned for the day. The Food Security Bill, which was listed for discussion and passing, could not be taken up finally.